Cape Town - Two police officers have been arrested in connection with a robbery at a Chinese-owned business in Milnerton.
The officers allegedly used a police vehicle in their getaway on Thursday night.
The robbery, the fifth targeting a Chinese-owned business in the province since January, prompted a meeting on Friday afternoon between Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and the Chinese consul-general, Liang Shugen.
The two policemen were allegedly among six people who robbed the business on Marconi Road in Montague Gardens of a “substantial” amount of money.
One of the six robbers was wearing a police uniform and one of the getaway cars was a police vehicle.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said: “The six - one of whom was dressed in a police uniform - fled the scene in three vehicles, including a black Mercedes-Benz Vito bus.”
Flying Squad members, on patrol in Voortrekker Road in Bellville, saw the Vito and gave chase before stopping it and arresting the people inside.
One suspect was shot in the foot during the scuffle.
Traut identified one of the six suspects as a 31-year-old police constable and he confirmed yesterday that another police officer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the incident.
Police have arrested four of the six suspects and they will all appear in court soon.
Plato said yesterday that Shugen had expressed his concern about the recent spate of attacks on Chinese-owned businesses.
“Mr Shugen raised further concerns over what appeared to be a lack of progress into the investigations of these cases,” Plato said.
“While I commend the swift action in apprehending the officers, it raises serious concerns about some of the men and women employed to protect us.”
Plato said he would be requesting a full report from Western Cape police commissioner Arno Lamoer on what strategies had been put in place to prevent similar crimes. - Cape Argus