First drugging a pensioner to steal his belongings, now murder?

*Identities of Suspects Withheld Until ID Parade Finalised*

RIET REVIER – The bail application for two women that drugged & robbed a 75 year old pensioner in Riet Rivier has been adjourned by the Verulam Magistrates Court to 13 December 2024.

Reaction Unit South Africa arrested both women on Monday (11/11/2024) for Robbery after the pensioner was drugged & his home ransacked. His tea had been laced with an unidentified drug that caused him to pass out for several hours. Reaction Officers tracked a 39 year old woman to Montford in Chatsworth and arrested her.

The woman grabbed onto her eleven year old son forcing Officers to delay the arrest until the child was safely removed an hour later. The second suspect, a 47 year old woman was tracked to a creche in Sunford & arrested. The woman was intoxicated at the time of arrested and informed Officers that the first suspect had orchestrated the crime. Both arrests were captured on Body Cams.

On Wednesday, both women appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court. The 37 year old accused informed the court that she could afford R1000 bail & that she had a conviction for Robbery. She was sentenced by the Durban High Court to ten (10) years imprisonment wholly suspended for five (5) years in 2023 & instructed to pay the victims R2 million in compensation.

She further informed the Magistrate that she was co-operative when arrested by Officers from Reaction Unit SA & that she was severely assaulted by her co-accused while in Police custody. She received medical attention at a local hospital after complaining of the assault and registered a criminal case. A blue eye, facial and bodily injuries were shown to the court. The woman further added that her life was being threatened by her accomplice. Due to time constraints the matter was adjourned.

The Investigating Officer, Detective W/O Patrick Gengan informed Officers that the suspects were linked to two cases in Phoenix, a third case in Chatsworth & a fourth case in the South Coast. W/Officer Gengan who is opposing bail is requesting victims to make contact with thier Investigating Officers so the suspects can be charged on cases that they are linked to.

Whilst at the Verulam Magistrates Court, Reaction Officers were approached by two complainants who were robbed by the duo. A 76 year old man explained that he & his 44 old daughter were approached by the woman on September 12, 2024. The suspects approached thier home and explained that they knew his wife that was hospitalised. When they were invited indoors the woman offered to make them tea. The pensioner left his tea to cool while his epileptic daughter consumed the hot drink.

She then passed out & woke up a short while later. One of the women attempted to suffocate her with a pillow while the other ransacked the home. A criminal case of Attempted Murder & Robbery was registered. The case was initially closed and reopened at Chatsworth SAPS when Reaction Officers arrested the suspects Rylan Moodley (29), the stepson of the second accused, informed Reaction Officers that he was seeking justice for his late father Darren Moodley (55).

According to Moodley he has sufficient evidence & witnesses confirming that his father was murdered on May 24, 2022. He discovered that his step mother had purchased several bottles of coolant & Rattex and poisoned his father repeatedly until he died a short while later. He added that his stepmother had bribed Law Enforcement Officers and no arrests were made. He believes the motive for the murder was an extramarital affair between his stepmother & a 17 year old teenager. Both woman were remanded in custody to the Chatsworth SAPS cells.