The Kimberley Regional Court sentenced two men to a combined 18 years in prison for their involvement in an armed robbery at the Diamond Pavilion Mall.
THE KIMBERLEY Regional Court on Wednesday sentenced two men to a combined 18 years in prison for their involvement in an armed robbery at the Diamond Pavilion Mall.
According to police spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane, on Sunday, November 20, 2022, 36-year-old Relebogile Seshego and his 26-year-old accomplice, Katlego Phukuntsi, entered a jewellery store at the Diamond Pavilion Mall in Kimberley brandishing a firearm.
They threatened the store employees with the firearm and made off with jewellery, cellphones and an undisclosed sum of money.
The duo were seen fleeing the scene in a white Toyota Starlet and the police were alerted and responded swiftly. Both suspects were successfully traced and arrested on the same day.
The case was handed over to Sergeant Eunice Ngono of the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Investigation unit, who successfully opposed bail. Through her meticulous investigation, both accused ended up pleading guilty to all charges.
The court found them guilty as charged and Seshego received a 10-year direct imprisonment sentence for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and a further two years for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, wholly suspended for a period of five years.
Phukuntsi, the younger of the two, was sentenced to eight years in prison on the same charges.
Both men were also declared unfit to possess a firearm, under the provisions of the Firearms Controls Act.
The acting provincial commissioner of the Northern Cape, Major-General Luntu Ngubelanga, lauded the investigating officer and welcomed the sentencing. He assured the community that the police would continue to use its resources to curb such offences in the Province.
