Durban - A former member of the now disbanded Cato Manor organised crime unit has testified how they apprehended and recovered money from a suspect who was fingered in a staged armed robbery in 2011.
Suspended police captain Anton Lockem on Thursday gave evidence during the trial of Athish Dookhi, 31, and Imraan Khan, 39, at the Durban Regional Court.
The two men are charged with theft of R1.9 million in travellers cheques and local and foreign currency, relating to a staged robbery they were allegedly involved in at an American Express Foreign Exchange branch in Musgrave in February, 2011.
Two others, Sameera Khan, 35, who worked at the exchange centre at the time, and Malawian national, Fred Maleta, have already pleaded guilty for their involvement in staging the robbery and were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each in March 2012 – three of which were suspended.
Dookhi and Khan pleaded not guilty to theft.
On Thursday Lockem told magistrate Trevor Levitt that Sameera had made a report to him while she was being treated at a hospital after the incident, that Dookhi was involved.
As a result, members from his unit proceeded to St Augustine’s Hospital where they strategically placed themselves and waited to apprehend Dookhi.
Lockem said Dookhi arrived in a silver Golf GTI with no number plates, and he was stopped and questioned.
After seeking permission from Dookhi, the police searched his vehicle and discovered Australian Dollars equivalent to almost R18 800, euros to the value of R19 360 and R40 350 in local currency.
Lockem said police secured the money and returned it to Greg Stubbs, a manager of the American Express company.
He said his investigations also led him to Dookhi’s friend, Imraan Khan’s alleged involvement.
Lockem testified how Dookhi told him he purchased the vehicle from car dealership Aksons in Durban.
“I went into Aksons and enquired about how the Golf was purchased, and requested to see the video footage. The owner was very unhelpful and we got into an argument. We requested back-up and eventually seized some of their computer towers,” Lockem said.
“We later discovered Dookhi purchased the Golf and Khan a BMW X5 with foreign currency valued about R570 000. We continued looking for the balance of the money, which was in British pounds, US dollars, travellers cheques, Australian dollars and local currency. There were more monies found by police, but not by me,” Lockem said.
During cross-examination, attorney Amith Luckan, who is representing the men, told the policemen that Dookhi claims the car was not purchased by him, but he merely drove it to show it to his girlfriend to encourage her to buy it.
He also told the court that Dookhi denied giving permission to search the vehicle and that he was not present when the monies were being handed over to the company employee.
Earlier during the trial, Maleta testified that he had been in the employment of Khan and was told by him that he had a “job” for him to carry out.
He said Khan told him everything was planned and that he would give him the firearm to go and hold up Sameera.
He testified how Sameera phoned them on the day and how he was told the exact time to strike, while she was alone in the branch.
He said he received R13 000 for the robbery.
The trial continues
Daily News