FREE STATE – Two Lesotho nationals have been sentenced to eleven years direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances following the robbery of a critical community service point, the Thaba Nchu Post Office.
The Free State Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Maj Gen Mokgadi Bokaba, has welcomed the sentence imposed on the illegal immigrants.
Bokaba commended the multidisciplinary team involved in the arrest, as well as the investigating officer, for ensuring that justice was served.
Hawks team commended
On Friday 20 February, Teboho Mosiane (30) and his co-accused, Lehlohonolo Phillimon Masenyetse (36), were found guilty on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. They were subsequently sentenced by the Thaba Nchu Regional Court on Thursday 26 February.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in September 2020, when employees at the Thaba Nchu Post Office were confronted by three armed suspects who entered the premises, and pointed a firearm at the manager, demanding cash.
Fled with cash
The suspects instructed the manager to take them to the safe where they removed a bag containing cash and fled the scene. In the process, they also robbed three employees of their cellphones.
Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, together with Selosesha Visible Policing and the Tactical Response Team, acted swiftly on the information. The suspects, Mosiane and Masenyetse, were cornered and arrested later the same day. During the arrest, cash amounting to R270 000 and three cellphones were recovered.
The court sentenced both Mosiane and Masenyetse to eleven years direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. In addition, each was sentenced to a fine of R1 000 or six months imprisonment for contravening the Immigration Act. The court further ordered that both accused be deported to Lesotho upon completion of their custodial sentences.
