NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Hotel Owner Says World Cup Robbers Not Nigerians, Woman Not Raped

[ ‘Nigerian’ Gunmen Rob World Cup Fans, Rape Woman -Updated ]

By Masterweb News Desk

Masterweb News Team contacted Mr. Kurt Mulder, owner of Hamilton Parks Country Lodge where four gunmen robbed World Cup soccer fans guests of the hotel. He told our news team reaching him on the phone that the gunmen were South Africans and not Nigerians. On asking him how he knew the identity of the gunmen he said: “I am a South African and should know South Africans when I see them. Above all, I am an African and you know we know ourselves – I can tell a South African from a Nigerian.” He said the female victim was not raped, but tied up along with others including him, in the same room. Mulder said he was 2 meters away from the female victim and did not see her assaulted by the robbers.

Hamilton Parks Country Lodge is in Hazyview, an isolated area north-east of Johannesburg, South Africa. The hotel according to Masterweb investigations, has witnessed several robbery incidents which South African police failed to investigate appropriately. Several robberies have also occurred at Kruger National Park around the corner from Hamilton Parks Country Lodge, without significant arrests by South African police. ( Continues below...... )

Photo Above: Hamilton Parks Country Lodge, Hazyview, South Africa.

Masterweb investigations revealed the gunmen did not trail the soccer fans, but hid in the bushland surrounding the hotel. Hamilton Parks Country Lodge is surrounded by over 250 hectares of indigenous bushland. Shortly after midnight, after fans arrived the hotel from the World Cup match between Australia and Serbia, the hotel owner, who doubled as manager, stepped out to welcome them into the hotel, but was accosted by the gunmen. The robbers ordered him at gunpoint to “get back in.” He went in and the gunmen locked the door, ordering everyone in that section of the hotel, including the owner, to lie down. They tied their hands behind their backs with shoestrings and robbed them of valuables, including, cell (mobile) phones, laptops, passports, money, etc. They also went from room to room stealing all that were of interest to them. Captain Jacky Mbuyane, South African police officer investigating the crime, said the Australian female victim was sexually assaulted, and got medical treatment, but she was not raped. In his words: "Emotionally, she was hurt. She was upset." ( Continues below...... )

Photo Above: Map of South Africa

The victims were freed after the robbers left. South Africa police and embassies of victims were contacted with details of the incident. Consular officials from Australian High Commission in Pretoria assisted victims in getting medical treatment, issuing emergency travel documents to their citizens.

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Yesterday, Sunday, June 27, 2010, Masterweb News Desk published an article titled ”‘Nigerian’ Gunmen Rob World Cup Fans, Rape Woman”. After Masterweb sponsored investigations, our News Desk came up with the update above. Our Sunday, June 27, 2010 article is reproduced below.

‘Nigerian’ Gunmen Rob World Cup Fans, Rape Woman

Nine soccer fans were tied up and robbed at gunpoint with one victim raped, in a terrifying hold-up in their hotel rooms following the Australia-Serbia World Cup match in South Africa. The fans, which included five Australians, were on their way back to the hotel after the match. The Socceroos of Australia defeated Serbia 2-1 in the encounter.

According to reports reaching Masterweb News Desk, four armed men trailed nine soccer fans back to their hotel in Nelspruit, South Africa, invading their rooms and robbing them, allegedly raping a female victim. Steve Gaynor, one of the victims who had $10,000 worth of equipment stolen from him said the robbers were Nigerians. He said the men were armed with rifles and handguns, and five of the victims, including himself and the raped female, Australians. According to Gaynor, one of the victims, an off-duty Australian Federal Police officer, for safety reasons, kept others calm during the robbery and assault.

"I had watched the match from the hotel that night and about 12.30 am three cars arrived back at the hotel and people started filing in. I was in the bar and some people came in there while others went back to their rooms. We were oblivious to what was going on. These poor kids were tied up, held at gunpoint and robbed. My room was robbed, but luckily I wasn't in there when they broke through the window." Gaynor was quoted as telling reporters.

“They took cash, jewellery and watches off the people they had tied up and stole phones and laptops. It was robbery with violence. One guy was on the floor and the man had his boot on his head and told him not to move or he is dead - it was serious." Gaynor added.

Photo Above: Steve Gaynor, one of the World Cup robbery victims.

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*Tags: Nigerians, Gunmen, Attack, Rob, Rape, Soccer, World, Cup, Fans, Woman, Crime, Africa, Masterweb