An investigation by the Gauteng Hawks has led to the arrest of a 22-year-old man suspected of making several bomb threats to two banks‚ First National and Bank Standard Bank.
The suspect allegedly made numerous bomb threats in August claiming he had planted explosive devices which necessitated the buildings to be evacuated and closed for at least a day‚ resulting in losses amounting to millions of rand‚ according to Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
No explosives devices were located during extensive searches of the two buildings‚ while investigations were already at an advanced stage to identify the caller‚ he Brig Muaudzi added.
“The suspect allegedly demanded that both banks close accounts belonging to a trust. The details will be divulged at his court hearing. The 22-year-old was finally tracked and was arrested at his workplace in Limpopo‚ Polokwane‚ on Wednesday evening and Hawks members seized cell phones‚ simcards‚ a computer and documents.”
The suspect appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday charges under the POCDATARA Act of 2004 of threatening to place and discharge or detonate explosives or any other lethal device.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza‚ stated: “The Hawks takes threats of violence very seriously.
Make no mistake we investigate these incidents‚ and those found responsible will be subject to arrest and full prosecution no matter where they are located.”
Man arrested for alleged bomb threats to banks
An investigation by the Gauteng Hawks has led to the arrest of a 22-year-old man suspected of making several bomb threats to two banks‚ First National and Bank Standard Bank.
The suspect allegedly made numerous bomb threats in August claiming he had planted explosive devices which necessitated the buildings to be evacuated and closed for at least a day‚ resulting in losses amounting to millions of rand‚ according to Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
No explosives devices were located during extensive searches of the two buildings‚ while investigations were already at an advanced stage to identify the caller‚ he Brig Muaudzi added.
“The suspect allegedly demanded that both banks close accounts belonging to a trust. The details will be divulged at his court hearing. The 22-year-old was finally tracked and was arrested at his workplace in Limpopo‚ Polokwane‚ on Wednesday evening and Hawks members seized cell phones‚ simcards‚ a computer and documents.”
The suspect appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday charges under the POCDATARA Act of 2004 of threatening to place and discharge or detonate explosives or any other lethal device.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza‚ stated: “The Hawks takes threats of violence very seriously.
Make no mistake we investigate these incidents‚ and those found responsible will be subject to arrest and full prosecution no matter where they are located.”
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