A Malawian male national, Patrick Kapalamula (37), was found guilty of diesel smuggling and sentenced to ten years’ direct imprisonment by the Vrede Regional Court. His sentencing on Monday, 4 December, was a result of probing by the Free State police’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Bethlehem and the Hawks.
The convict had been remanded in custody since his arrest on 4 January last year.
Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the police successfully opposed a bail application by Kapalamula. He said Kapalamula’s accomplices evaded arrest.
The convicted Kapalamula was found guilty on a charge of contravening the Criminal Matters Amendment Act 18, relating to damage inflicted to essential infrastructure.
Mohobeleli said Kapalamula will be deported back to his native country upon completing his term in prison.
He said evidence gathered during the investigation indicated that Kapalamula colluded with syndicates to damage a Transnet storage tank to siphon diesel.
“A private security company’s personnel conducting routine patrols on a farm near Vrede saw a group of suspects drawing diesel from a storage tank. Upon seeing the security officers, Kapalamula’s partners in crime ran away, leaving him behind and he was arrested,” said Mohobeleli. He said the syndicate had damaged the storage tank’s block valve to siphon diesel into four trucks and a bakkie.
Mohobeleli said the owners of two of the trucks were being sought. They are a white Scania truck with the registration number FJP 047 MP, and a white MAN truck with the registration number NU 37576.
He said the other two vehicles were released to their owners, who positively identified them.
