Mom and son found with firearms allegedly linked to 'Bloods' gang leader appear in court
Remanded into police custody
The mother and son were charged with possession of firearms without a licence, ammunition without a licence and prohibited firearms.
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Indira and Ashley Soni, who were arrested for allegedly being in possession of firearms and ammunition, suspected to belong to a gang leader, made their first appearance in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The mother, 63, and son, 38, of Foresthaven in Phoenix, were charged with possession of firearms without a licence, ammunition without a licence and prohibited firearms.
Dumisani Mchunu, the State prosecutor, requested the matter be adjourned for investigations ahead of a formal bail application. He said the State was opposed to bail.
Attorney Mcallister Govender, who is representing both the accused, requested the bail application for Indira be heard due to her various medical conditions.
However, the magistrates granted the adjournment for the State to conduct its investigations.
Both accused were remanded into police custody.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, said the two were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation spearheaded by members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit last Thursday. He said the operation led to the recovery of six firearms and ammunition.
“Police received information from a community member about the firearms that were stored at the said address. It allegedly belonged to a man who is suspected to be the leader of a known gang group, 'Bloods', in the area. The information was operationalised and police officers, armed with a search warrant, arrived at the house and found two occupants.
“During the search police found two pistols with the serial numbers filed off, two handguns and two shotguns, as well as several rounds of ammunition which were hidden inside a wardrobe in an upstairs bedroom. A search for the suspect, who is believed to be the drug kingpin and gang leader in the area, is ongoing,” he said.
Netshiunda said the firearms would be taken for forensic analysis to determine if they were used in the commission of crimes in the area or elsewhere in the province.