MURDERER Ralton Koetaan (34) from Tiryville was sentenced in the Gqeberha High Court for the murder and robbery of Jean Lombaard (67) at his smallholding in Rocklands on 26 April 2019.
Koetaan was found guilty in February 2021 and received the following sentence last week: murder – life imprisonment, aggravated robbery – 15 years imprisonment, unlawful possession of a firearm – 15 years, unlawful possession of ammunition – 3 years and theft – 3 years imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrent to the life sentence.
According to Colonel Priscilla Naidu, from SAPS Communications, Lombaard’s gardener on Monday, 29 April 2019 at about 08:40 noticed that his bicycle was not there and went to the house to enquire about it.
“The door and security gate were open, and the gardener became suspicious when Lombaard didn’t come out. He went inside and found Lombaard lying on the living room floor with his hands and feet bound,” said Colonel Naidu.
“The house was ransacked and the safe opened. A 6.35 calibre pistol as well as Lombaard’s cellphone and other items were taken.
“Investigations were conducted in the vicinity and the gardener’s bicycle was found at a business premises on Rocklands Road not far from the deceased’s house.”
A few days later, the investigating officer, D/W/O John Lourens from the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation in Gqeberha arrested Koetaan at his house in Tiryville.
