Cop bust with stolen guns

A Joburg police inspector has appeared in court after investigators found guns stolen from two guards during a cash heist hidden in the officer's BMW.

Samuel Tshioma, 43, was arrested at his desk at Jeppestown police station on August 6, five days after a gang ambushed three security guards filling an ATM with cash at Faraday taxi rank in the city centre.

The gang disarmed the guards and stole two of their weapons.

But the arms were fitted with tracking devices and for five days after the heist, investigators were quietly tracking their movements.

When they finally pinpointed the guns' location, they were shocked to discover them hidden in a car belonging to a fellow police officer parked at a police station.

This was the evidence in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday during Tshioma's bail application.

He is charged with being in possession of an illegal firearm, robbery with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice. He has yet to plead.

This is not the first time the inspector has been arrested.

In 1983, he was convicted of theft in Sibasa in Venda.

Ten years later he was arrested for robbery and attempted murder in Temba, north-east of Pretoria, but was found not guilty.

Then in 2004, in Kempton Park, he was arrested for armed robbery, corruption and abduction.

Tshioma was again found not guilty.

Investigating officer Inspector Stephen Phillips told the court that on the day of the robbery, security guards were loading money into an ATM when they were ambushed.

The gang had an assortment of automatic weapons, including an AK47, an R5 and shotguns.

"The eight men were in two vehicles. They got out and shot at the three security guards. One was shot in the hand."

Phillips said the men grabbed the cash boxes filled with more than R2,7-million. They disarmed the guards and made off with their weapons.

However, these were fitted with tracking devices.

The Specialised Crime Unit switched on the devices and began following the signal.

They tracked the weapons for days between Germiston and Joburg until they found the weapons in a vehicle at Jeppestown police station.

The BMW had a blue light and sirens.

There was also a bullet-proof vest and police intelligence number plates inside the car.

When the investigators searched the vehicle they found the guards' weapons in the cubbyhole, Phillips said.

Tshioma was arrested at his desk.

The case was adjourned to Friday.

Meanwhile, identity parades will be held to see if Tshioma can be identified as one of the gang.

He has been suspended without pay until his case is finalised, according to his lawyer.