A 23-year-old Northern Cape man was handed a 20-year prison sentence by the Richmond Regional Court on May 6 for robbery, housebreaking and theft.
THE RICHMOND Regional Court handed down a 20-year prison sentence to Jason Witbooi, 23, on May 6 on charges of robbery, housebreaking and theft.
The first incident in Witbooi’s crime spree dates back to November 2020. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock, spokesperson for the Northern Cape police, Witbooi broke into a Richmond home, stole a cellphone from a female resident, and fled the scene.
In February 2022, Witbooi was involved in another housebreaking and theft incident. Police officers spotted him with stolen goods in Richmond. Witbooi dropped the bag of stolen items and attempted to escape but was later apprehended. Although the case was provisionally withdrawn and Witbooi was released from prison, his criminal activities did not cease.
The final incident leading to his arrest occurred on May 9, 2023, when Witbooi robbed a 16-year-old boy of a 20kg bag of chicken at knifepoint. He was arrested the following day and has remained in custody since then.
On May 6, 2024, Witbooi was sentenced as follows:
Count 1 – Theft in 2020: 5 years imprisonment
Count 2 – Housebreaking and theft in 2022: 5 years imprisonment
Count 3 – Robbery: 15 years imprisonment
The sentences for counts 1 and 2 will run concurrently.
The SAPS in the Northern Cape welcomed the 20-year prison sentence handed down to Witbooi.
The provincial commissioner of the SAPS in the Northern Cape, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, commended the Richmond SAPS investigation officers for their excellent teamwork. Detective Sergeant Stephanie Koen, Detective Constable Rodney Julies and the Colesberg Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management team were specifically praised for their efforts that led to the “outstanding” sentence.
