IN a dramatic turn of events, two suspects arrested in connection with last week’s robberies in St Lucia were set free after appearing in Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court this week.
Two of the four suspects, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested last Thursday following an intensive search of the St Lucia Estuary and surrounding bush.
According to initial police reports, the two admitted to the robberies and a number of stolen items were found in their possession.
However, on appearing at Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court on Monday, the suspects were not called to the stand, their case was not enrolled and the pair was set free.
The charges against them were dropped.
According to one of the investigating officers, the Senior Public Prosecutor queried some anomalies on the docket and ordered police officers to rectify the anomalies.
Once rectified, SAPS will re-present the docket to the prosecutor.
The robberies occurred in the early hours of last Thursday morning after which the four suspects fled.
One jumped off the bridge into St Lucia estuary and swam ashore.
He was later arrested at his home while the second suspect was found hiding in thick bush. The two remaining suspects are still at large.
