Dangerous prisoners break out
2008-6-3 08:00
Johannesburg - Eleven dangerous alleged robbers and murderers escaped from Johannesburg central police station's cells for high-risk detainees, apparently with the help of two police officers.
The escape became known on Monday only, after initially being kept secret. One of the 11 was arrested shortly afterwards in the charge office, but the other 10 escaped.
Beeld was told by a reliable source that nine of the escapees faced more than 100 charges.
A police officer apparently had gone to the cells, was overpowered and was threatened with a firearm.
The firearm had to have been smuggled in earlier because no firearms were allowed in the high-risk section.
The detainees then unlocked the rest of the cells before they overpowered other officers and forced them to unlock the door.
Two cops arrested
One suspect was caught shortly afterwards in the charge office, but the other 10 escaped.
Two officers were arrested after the escape and the unit for organised crime is investigating charges that they might have helped the detainees to escape.
According to Beeld's information, the escapees were linked to the infamous bank and casino robbers known as the Hammer Gang.
Three other members of the gang escaped from Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on May 5.
Beeld