Tue 24 July 2012
ACSA welcomes recent sentencing in multimillion rand airport heist
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has welcomed the lengthy sentences
handed down to those responsible for the 2006 O.R. Tambo International Airport
robbery in which R100 million was stolen. Alleged airport heist
mastermind Christopher Billings was sentenced to 22 years in prison at the South
Gauteng High Court on Friday for armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Five others received jail terms ranging from between eight and sixteen
years. In March 2006, the men held up guards and police on board a South
African Airways plane at the country’s flagship airport before making off with
bags of money, which had been flown in from the United Kingdom. “On
behalf of Airports Company South Africa, we would like to thank every man and
woman who was instrumental in the arrest and subsequent conviction of those
responsible for this crime. As an airport community we welcome the sentences
handed down. It has been six years of an anxious wait but it was worth it,” says
ACSA’s Head of Security, Jason Tshabalala. Airports Company South
Africa, together with its stakeholders, continues to intensify its efforts
around general crime prevention in and around its networks of
airports. “Friday’s conviction has certainly sent a very strong message
to anyone thinking of committing such a crime ever again at any of our airports.
Since the robbery, we have implemented stringent security measures and have had
no major incidences,” Tshabalala says. Airports Company South Africa
will continue in its efforts to provide a safe, friendly and welcoming
environment to all travellers and airport users. For any further
inquiries please contact: Unathi Batyashe-Fillis Manager: Communication and Brand Management O.R.
Tambo International Airport Airports Company South Africa Direct: +27 (0) 11 921 6087 Main: +27 (0) 11 921 6262 Fax to E-Mail:
086 560 3488 Fax: 086 560 3488 Cell: +27 (0) 79 882 7307 E-Mail: unathi.Batyashe-Fillis@airports.co.za |
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Categories: Business |