An alleged fake law enforcement operation that ended with the theft of precious stones worth nearly R15 million has claimed a third accused, as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) tightens its case against three Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers.
EMPD officer Keisha Leigh Stols appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after handing herself over at Addendale Police Station on Monday.
She faces charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud. The State successfully applied for her to be joined as the third accused alongside fellow accused Adrian Mackenzie and Etienne van der Walt, who were arrested earlier this year.
According to the NPA, the charges stem from an incident on 11 February 2023 at premises in Killarney, Johannesburg.
The State alleges that the three accused falsely posed as members of a multi-disciplinary law enforcement team comprising EMPD officers and members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), claiming they were investigating suspected lithium smuggling.
Prosecutors allege the accused used those false representations to gain access to the property, where they assaulted the complainant and threatened them with firearms.
The trio allegedly made off with six boxes containing high-grade sugilite and manganese stones, commonly referred to as precious stones, with an estimated value of R14.9 million.
The State further alleges that the EMPD officers acted outside the scope of their lawful jurisdiction and falsely claimed they were authorised to conduct law enforcement operations within the City of Johannesburg.
Mackenzie and Van der Walt remain in custody after their earlier court appearances, while Stols also remains behind bars after being added to the case.
The matter was postponed to 16 July for the hearing of formal bail applications for all three accused.
Mackenzie and Van der Walt were arrested after an investigation linked them to the alleged robbery. Investigators claim the suspects impersonated a specialised law enforcement team to gain entry to the Killarney premises before carrying out the robbery. Stols became the third accused after handing herself over to police on 6 July, following which prosecutors successfully applied for her to be joined in the ongoing case.
