According to Bloemfontein police spokesperson, Thabo Covane, the father of an unsuspecting 20-year-old woman who was defrauded at an ATM in the Free State capital a day prior is said to be the gun wielding instigator in the shooting incident.

Covane says the Bayswater-based father gathered seven of his friends together to probe the ATM scam after funds from his 20-year-old daughter’s bank account were used to purchase booze at the liquor store where the shooting would occur.

In a twist of fate, whilst requesting video footage from the liquor store’s manager on Thursday morning to identify the suspects, the alleged ATM scammers walked back into the very same liquor store.

Police say the alleged ATM scammers wanted to exchange the liquor they had purchased the day prior with the stolen card for cash - that is when the confrontation ensued. “A fight broke out and two of the fraud suspects suffered multiple stab wounds as well as gunshot wounds. The third person, a passerby was also brushed by stray a bullet on the arm and as a result suffered a minor injury. One of the fraud suspects sped off from the scene in a white Opel Corsa which they all arrived in. He was later found in Rose Street in Wilgehof with serious injury on the shoulder” explains Covane.

The ATM scam suspects are presently receiving medical attention for their injuries at Pelonomi Hospital whilst under police guard. The 20-year-old’s ATM scam victim’s father and company have been arrested for attempted murder. It isn’t clear yet when they will appear before the local Magistrate Court for bail proceedings. Meanwhile local police have condemned both the avenging of the ATM scam as well the fraud incident itself.

OFM News