Eight teenagers involved in murder of 40-year-old man denied bail

Court has refused bail for eight suspects who were involved in the murder of a 40-year-old man.

Eight suspects from the age of 15 to 18 appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court this week on a charge of murder.

They allegedly killed Furqan Chaudhary, who was well known as Frank in the community.

Frank worked as a cellphone repair technician.

They applied for bail on Wednesday, 5 August, but it was denied and they are currently in custody.

According to a police statement, Chaudhary was allegedly attacked by armed suspects at the shop in Adriaans Avenue, KwaNonqaba, on Wednesday, 29 July.

The owner of the shop, MacDonald Tserayi said they opened the shop as usual between 10am and 11am and were attending to customers when the suspects arrived.

The suspects became a nuisance and tried to grab the phone Chaudhary was working on, they chased them out of the shop, locked it and called the police.

“While we were waiting outside for the police to arrive, more youths arrived and attacked us. Frank ran away and tried to hide, but they got him. They got me also, but not as badly as Frank.”

Chaudhary was stabbed on his right arm and back. He was rushed to a local hospital but later died.

“Frank was looking for help when he was attacked and no one helped him. They stood by, watching. If someone did something, he could have been alive. People think I am fine, but I am not.”

Tserayi also sustained injuries.

The eight suspects were eventually arrested on Thursday evening, 30 July after the police received information from the community.

The four youths below 18 will be detained at a facility in Cape Town, while the other four aged 18 remain in custody at the Mossel Bay Correctional Youth Centre.