Suspect arrested in Hankey farm attack
Well-known Port Elizabeth businesswoman shot by an intruder on a farm outside Hankey
A 30-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with an attack on a woman at a farm outside Hankey shortly before midnight on Friday.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday evening.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the suspect was arrested on charges of house robbery, attempted murder, rape, pointing of firearm, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, theft and abduction.
"More charges could be added." Naidu said.
A well-known Port Elizabeth businesswoman was shot by an intruder on a farm outside Hankey at the weekend while desperately trying to shield her three young children from the gunman.
The woman, 44, bleeding and in pain, was then forced to drive her attacker to an ATM in the town, where she seized the chance to escape while he was withdrawing money from her bank account.
The drama on the farm began shortly before midnight on Friday.
“The [attacker] gained entry to the house after firing several shots through a glass door [at the house],” police spokeswoman Captain Gerda Swart said.
The woman was shot in the lower body while trying to protect her three young children, who were not harmed physically. Her husband was not home at the time.
“The suspect took the woman in her vehicle to an ATM in town to withdraw cash.
“While the suspect was busy withdrawing cash, the woman managed to drive off in her car to a farm in the area, [where she] alerted the police.”
The man had not taken anything at the house, but withdrew an undisclosed sum of money.
Swart said the woman was treated at a Port Elizabeth hospital and discharged yesterday.
