NELSPRUIT - A juvenile suspect (17) who reportedly escaped from lawful custody on Tuesday, 20 December 2022 in the hands of his probation officers was handed over to the authorities (at Bushbuckridge SAPS) by his family members today, 22 December 2022.

It is reported that the suspect was initially arrested after being fingered in a robbery incident that took place in Dwarsloop near Bushbuckridge over the weekend. He was then arrested and on Tuesday, 20 December 2022, he was supposed to appear in court. Due to the fact that he is underage, probation officers had to be brought in and as they were bringing him to Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court, he reportedly escaped. A case of escape from lawful custody was opened. The suspect who still has to answer on charges of robbery with an additional one of attempted murder, is expected to appear at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court on Friday, 23 December 2023, this time facing a charge of escaping from lawful custody.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended the family members who took it upon themselves to bring the suspect back to the authorities. "I hope others will learn from this action taken by the suspect's family. If you are aware of your own family member somehow entangled in crime please report to the authorities before it is too late. Who knows, the person you are failing to report might commit worse crimes, not mentioning the fact that he might even hurt others closer to him or her" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service