Cop linked to multi-million rand jewellery heist accuses colleagues of flouting arrest procedure

JOHANNESBURG - Another police officer linked to a multi-million-rand jewellery heist in Llandudno, Cape Town has accused colleagues who arrested him and his partner of flouting processes during the arrest.

Bathandwa Soldati, Jacobus Groenewald, Bradley Minnaar, and Mthuthuzeli Mafanya appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Friday to apply for bail.

They are accused of stealing R20 million worth of jewellery from a house in Llandudno in September.

Constable Bathandwa Soldati took the witness stand during his bail application.

He accused the investigating officer of not following proper procedures when arresting his partner, Bradley Minnaar.

Soldati said that the investigating officer came to Gugulethu police station and told Minnaar he was under arrest as the police van, he was driving had been linked to a crime in Llandudno.

But Soldati said when the investigating officer searched the van, Minnaar was not present to witness the search as per procedure.

Soldati adds that he was also asked if he was present during the commission of the crime and was instructed to make a statement.

Meanwhile, last week, Mafanya also testified that while he was being processed, he was touched inappropriately by a female officer.