Pretoria - The Hawks have arrested a couple in Port Elizabeth for alleged money laundering and six charges of possession, acquisition and use of stolen property.
The couple, Shaun Ah-Shene (49) and Virginia Ah-Shene (49), allegedly formed part of the underground world, were arrested on Tuesday.
“Their main crime commodity was dealing in drugs but it later escalated to other crimes such as buying and selling of stolen property obtained during armed robberies and house robberies and money laundering,” Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
The syndicate has been under police watch since 2006, but the ring leader Ah-Shene managed to evade arrest for years, since he never directly involved himself with the crimes.
In 2008, the Hawks intensified investigations aimed at stopping Eastern Cape drug syndicates.
This led to police seizing stolen jewellery, luxury men's watches, sunglasses, video cameras and laptops.
“Police managed to link the stolen items from six armed robberies that occurred at exclusive jewellery stores and house robberies in Port Elizabeth,” said Mulaudzi.
They were granted R5000 bail each on condition that they report at Mount Road police station twice a week and inform the investigative officer of travel arrangements outside of the Eastern Cape.
The couple will appear in court again on the 27 February 2015.
Further charges are expected.
The Acting Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, has praised the members, asserting that the arrests are a clear indication that the Hawks do not deter from their duties in enforcing a zero tolerance in fighting serious organised crime.
“If criminals choose to involve themselves in serious organized crime, terrorizing our communities, no matter how long it takes us, they will ultimately spend the rest of their lives behind bars,” warned Ntlemeza. - SAnews.gov.za
