Two men including a Mozambican national were arrested and charged with illegally fitting blue lights to a private vehicle .
Afzal Abramjee (40), of Centurion, and Manuel Sarafim Pinto (49), a Mozambican national living in Robertsham, Johannesburg, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of operating a motor vehicle fitted with, or displaying, lamps emitting blue lights in contravention of the law.
They were released on bail of R10,000 each after the State indicated it would not oppose their release on bail, saying neither of them was considered a flight risk.
However, prosecutors requested strict bail conditions to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Pretoria Division Spokesperson Tshegofatso Makhudu, the case stems from a police roadblock conducted in Wierdabrug on June 4 this year.
Makhudu said police allegedly stopped a vehicle being driven by Abramjee’s wife and discovered that it had been fitted with blue lights, which are reserved for authorised emergency and law enforcement vehicles.
When questioned, she allegedly told officers that the vehicle belonged to her husband.
Police then contacted Abramjee and instructed him to come to the scene. Upon his arrival, he and his wife were taken to the Wierdabrug Police Station for questioning.
The vehicle was seized, and the pair were later released while police continued their investigation.
Following the completion of the investigation, police arrested Abramjee and Pinto at their respective homes on July 3 and 4.
As part of their bail conditions, the two accused must report to their nearest police stations once a week between 5pm and 8pm, surrender their passports to the investigating officer within 24 hours, and refrain from contacting any witnesses directly or indirectly.
The matter has been postponed to August 5 for further investigation.
