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(Photo by Gallo Images / Die Burger / Jaco Marais)
Gauteng police are pursuing seven suspects after customers and the owner of the Leriba Hotel in Centurion suffered an armed attack on Saturday night.
Police spokesman Lt. Kay Makhubela said a man was allegedly having dinner at the premises around 7:00 p.m. when he was confronted by armed men demanding money.
Makhubela said that they allegedly forced him to abandon his food and pushed him upstairs where another customer was present. He said the two men and the owner of the establishment were later tied up with a hanger.
According to Rekord East, the gang had broken into the hotel owner’s home, located on the hotel premises. He reported that the owner, his chef and a previous employee were the ones who were attacked.
Makhubela said they were allegedly assaulted while the suspects continued to demand money.
Local councilor Ina Strydom told the publication that they demanded that the chef hand over the keys to the safe and, after repeatedly assaulting him, “at one point pretended to be dead.”
The suspects fled with three cell phones, cash, and two laptops.
No arrests had been made and police were investigating a case of commercial theft.
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