2012-07-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — 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