Durban - A metro police officer was expected in court on Monday with two other men for the murder of a Durban accountant last week.
Hoosen Dhoda was shot dead at a travel agency in Problem Mkhize (Cowey) Road in Morningside on Monday.
He would have turned 47 this week.
Magma Security and Investigations was hired by Royal Travel to investigate the murder, which was believed to have been the result of a botched robbery.
The three men were nabbed at their homes in uMlazi when Magma and the police’s national intervention unit pounced on Thursday night.
Police spokeswoman, Captain Nqobile Gwala, said police and the private investigators had worked tirelessly following leads.
“Their hard work paid off when they arrested the three suspects. Among them was a metro police officer,” she said.
The suspects, aged between 21 and 32, were expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder and robbery.
According to a police source, the metro officer is linked to the dog unit.
Two women colleagues were with Dhoda at the time of the shooting.
It is believed that a staff member on the upper floor saw the men enter at about 7.45am and thought they were customers. When she saw the firearm, she screamed.
Dhoda had apparently tried to disarm one of the “well- dressed” assailants.
The men left without taking anything.
The premises were closed while detectives combed the scene and viewed CCTV footage.
Dhoda had worked at the travel agency for 20 years.
Gwala said the premises was ransacked, but it was unclear what was stolen.
“Seven spent 9mm cartridges were recovered from the scene,” she said.
Acting provincial commissioner Major-General Bhekinkosi Langa commended the partnership between police and the security firm which led to the arrests.
“These criminals will be subjected to prosecution and we will ensure, together with the NPA, that a well-prepared docket is presented in court,” he said.
Dhoda’s cousin, Bilal Dhoda, welcomed the speedy arrests, but said this did not bring them any relief as a family. “We just hope that they have the right people and they will be found guilty and given a strong sentence.”
He said although nothing could replace his cousin, as a family, they wanted to see justice served.
“He died a hero, trying to protect his female colleagues. His life was cut short for what? He wanted to see his son get married, see his grandchildren; they (the accused) need to pay,” he said.
Dhoda was buried in Pietermaritzburg, where he grew up.
Daily News