A 24-year-old man from Somerset West was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery.
The sentence was handed down to the accused, Ryan Cupido, in the Somerset West Regional Court on Thursday 8 October.
This after Cupido was charged with two counts of robbery with aggravated circumstances following an incident dating back to November last year when he targeted two victims in De Beers Avenue. Armed with a firearm, Cupido held two friends up around 22:45 on Saturday 11 November and robbed them of their cellphones, clothes and bank cards before fleeing the scene.
A case of robbery with aggravating circumstances was registered and the docket was assigned to Detective Constable Egen Charles at the Somerset West Detective Branch.
With intensive investigation Cupido was traced and positively arrested in connection with the case.
During the court proceedings Charles ensured that the suspect did not get bail and remained behind bars until his sentencing. Cupido received 15 years’ jail-time for two counts of aggravated robbery and five years’ imprisonment for the possession of a firearm. All counts are to run concurrently.
Station commander Col Jacolize Fleischmann lauded Charles for his outstanding investigation and remarked that the case would serve as a deterrent to criminals.
