Transnet Pipelines has welcomed the Nigel Regional Court Magistrates Court’s decision to deny bail to two alleged pipeline fuel thieves, one of them believed to be a key suspect in an organised syndicate.
Police arrested the suspects after they were caught allegedly tampering with the petroleum pipeline on May 2 in Gauteng.
The suspects appeared briefly in court and were remanded in custody until June 19.
Transnet Pipelines chief executive Michelle Phillips welcomed the denial of bail.
“The bail denial sends a strong message to other perpetrators that tampering with the petroleum pipelines is a serious offence which will be dealt with accordingly,” Phillips said in a statement.
She added that the arrests followed a joint intelligence operation after an alert from the security surveillance teams along the pipeline route.
“Equipment and other exhibits were also recovered at the crime scene. One of the perpetrators is believed to be a key player in a fuel theft syndicate,” Phillips said.
“Transnet extends its appreciation to the joint task team who worked on the case. Transnet, together with the legal fraternity, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), National Crime Intelligence, South African Police Service, law enforcement agencies and our appointed service provider Bidvest Protea Coin, will continue to do everything possible to oppose bail and ensure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law,” Phillips said.
