PARAMEDIC ARRESTED FOR ARMED ROBBERIES

MBABANE- A 28-year-old paramedic has been arrested in connection with a series of robberies committed at gunpoint along the Ezulwini and Mbabane corridor.

The health practitioner, who is believed to be member of a syndicate which had been robbing unsuspecting businesspeople and their families of their valuable items and money in cash, was arrested while at his homestead around Mbabane. When arrested, it is alleged that the paramedic, who was based at Malagwane, was found in possession of 40 EUR stolen from one of the robbed businesspeople, a gun and 10 live rounds of ammunition.
It is said that his arrest came after police officers received information that he was linked to a gun that was allegedly used in the commission of the offences. It has also been gathered that the health practitioner had fired a shot while at a popular hangout spot and shisanyama in Mbabane, before he disappeared with the gun.

Robberies

Worth noting is that Eswatini continues to experience armed robberies, where people are robbed of their properties at gunpoint. The armed robberies were more prevalent on motorists since the beginning of the unrest before it extended to businesspeople. It should be noted that the robberies are committed at a time when the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) had called upon people to surrender illegal firearms. The arrest of the paramedic comes a few weeks after high profile businesspeople, including a bank manager and their families, were robbed of their assets amounting to over E5 million in the early evening or anytime of the day.

The assets included motor vehicles, which were then used as getaways cars, cellphones, laptops and money in cash. One of the incidents happened near Medisun Clinic in Ezulwini, where unknown gunmen reportedly walked into a businessman’s house and robbed everyone at gunpoint. It was reported that the businessman and his family were seated with the doors unlocked when the robbers entered the house unexpectedly in the early evening.

Injured

It was gathered that the gunmen injured a dog, which eventually died, before proceeding to the house where the businessman and his family were relaxing. The gunmen reportedly went away with cellphones, money in cash and a motor vehicle, which was later found abandoned a few metres from the homestead. Another almost similar incident happened at Pine Valley in Mbabane, where a well-known businessman and his family was robbed of property valued to over E100 000. It was reported that the gunmen held the family hostage before forcing him to travel to one of the automated teller machines (ATMs) to withdraw money under duress.

It is suspected that the paramedic was working hand-in-hand with some people from South Africa. The robbed businesspeople raised the alarm and further warned their neighbours to keep doors closed and locked, in order to avoid any possible attack. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the arrest of a 28-year-old man, who was found with a gun and 10 live rounds of ammunition. Vilakati said the police were still looking for the other suspects. She appealed to anyone who might have information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the police on 999.

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