A fraud suspect who escaped custody in 2023 was apprehended in Free State while involved in the theft of copper cables. Sello Cedric Pinkoane was initially arrested for fraud and theft but escaped custody over a year ago. Authorities received intelligence leading them to a farm outside Steynsrus where they found Pinkoane and two accomplices stealing copper and aluminium. Pinkoane faces charges including fraud and attempted murder. Another suspect linked to six house robberies and two counts of rape appeared in Polokwane Magistrate's Court after being tracked down and arrested for possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
A fraud suspect who escaped custody in 2023 has been rearrested in Free State while stealing copper cables with two other men. Last week, authorities caught a wanted suspect who had escaped from custody in February 2023 in the act of committing another crime and rearrested him. Police initially arrested Sello Cedric Pinkoane in Kroonstad, Free State, for a fraud and theft case that Sandton police in Gauteng had registered and investigated.
More than a year later, the Steynsrus police in Free State, working with the Zamdela Tactical Response team, received intelligence-led information on where the wanted suspect was. On 24 January 2025, the information led the teams to a farm outside Steynsrus. Authorities caught Pinkoane with two other men, aged 24 and 35, stealing copper cables and aluminium. Two arrested in Kimberley after being caught with drugs worth more than R700k “It is alleged that the suspects fled in different directions when they realised that police were approaching on foot but were arrested,” Kareli said. “Police found stripped copper and aluminium cables worth an estimated R15 000 and a white Nissan NP 200 bakkie.” According to the police, the suspect is facing, among other charges, a fraud case, which is currently being investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and an attempted murder case opened in Tumahole.The police added that Pinkoane was allegedly using different names upon his arrests. Pinkoane, Joseph Motsoane, and Thapelo Thomas Moroho appeared in the Steynsrus Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 27 January 2025, and will appear again in court on Friday, 31 January 2025, for a formal bail application. Meanwhile, in Polokwane, Limpopo, a 27-year-old suspect linked to six cases appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. The suspect was positively linked with six charges of house robberies and two counts of rape that occurred at various localities within the Lebowakgomo policing area. On Saturday, 18 January, investigators tracked him to his residence in Ga-Maja-Ga Phiri Village and arrested him for possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.“The suspect was on the run after being implicated in a number of serious and violent cases, including the robbing of a police officer of her official firearm at Ga-Mothibangwanamago,” said Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba. The court remanded the suspect in police custody on 20 January until 9 April 2025 for further profiling and investigations. Police said they expect to link him to more cases as investigations continue.Gogo Maweni allegedly arrested: 2019 assault allegation resurface
CRIMINAL ESCAPE Fraud Theft Copper Cable Theft Rearrest Attempted Murder House Robbery Rape
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