| 2024/08/28 |
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Media Statement
EDENBURG – Four accused were sentenced to 30 years’ each imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure and theft of copper cables before Edenburg Regional Court on Tuesday 27 August 2024. The four were apprehended on the N1 road near Trompsburg by Trompsburg Highway Patrol on 5 June 2023. They were driving in a VW Golf heading to Bloemfontein. Members stopped the vehicle and upon searching the vehicle, found suspected stolen copper cables and tools such as spade and ball cutter. A case of tampering with essential infrastructure and theft of copper cables was opened and assigned to Organised Crime team consisting of WO Krokkie Engelbrecht and WO Elizer Mohotsi. The duo established during their investigation that the copper was stolen at Transnet substation in Bethulie. Transnet employees managed to positively identify the cables from the said substation. The damaged caused to the infrastructure amounted to R 6, 5 million and the stolen copper amounted to R 180 300, 00. The four accused namely Thabo Lekhari aged 37, Morena Mota (30), Lehlohonolo Mokoena (30) and Lebohang Lekometso (30) were sentenced to 15 years for tampering with essential infrastructure and a further 15 years for theft of copper cables.
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