3 Tshwane municipal workers accused of stealing R7m transformer to spend night at Kgosi Mampuru Prison

JOHANNESBURG - The three Tshwane municipal workers accused of stealing a R7 million transformer will be spending a night at the Kgosi Mampuru Prison.

The Atteridgeville Magistrates Court earlier denied their application to stay at the local police station holding cells.

The legal representative of one of the suspects said his client had severe anxiety, and being at an unfamiliar location would only trigger it.

However, because the application was made too late, it was denied.

Investigating officer Thabo Lukhele explained: "My colleagues know the procedure that we normally follow, in that we need to get permission from the station commander to keep prisoners at the Atteridgeville Police Station cells."

The trio was arrested on Tuesday by the Gauteng organised crime unit at their workplace due to their link to the theft of a transformer from the Laudium substation.

The court has set a date for Friday for a formal bail application.