20yrs for stealing guns in evidence
2010-06-04 20:10
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Cops 'lose' 5 300 firearms
Cop held after 98 firearms vanish
Durban - A man accused of stealing 98 firearms from the Nanda police station and selling them was sentenced to 20 years' in prison by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban on Friday.
While working as an exhibit clerk at the Nanda police station, Thulisani Trevor Mfeka, 30, stole the firearms and sold them to other policemen and members of the public for personal gain, the court found.
Mfeka pleaded guilty to and was convicted of theft and unlicensed trading on Thursday.
Three policemen were arrested and the station commander was suspended by National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele last month when it was discovered that the firearms were missing.
Sentencing Mfeka on Friday, acting Judge Linus Phoswa voiced puzzlement that the crime had been able to take place at a police station.
"The accused (Mfeka) said in August 2009 a police officer approached him to steal a firearm and sell it to him for R800. This first request started the accused's business venture," he said.
Disturbing
Questioning why a police officer would approach an employee and ask him to steal a gun and buy it from him, he asked: "How is that this was never discovered?"
He also questioned why the exhibit register was not checked and said he found this disturbing.
Phoswa said firearms contributed to violent crimes in the country.
"Do you know what havoc these firearms are causing in the country regarding violent crimes? It would be difficult to trace the firearms," he told Mfeka.
"What clouded his (Mfeka's) mind was greed and self enrichment at the expense of the safety and security for the community," he said.
Mfeka was a civil servant, paid by taxpayers, and he breached their trust, Phoswa said.
However, he noted that the law demanded that there be a balance in sentencing.
He said that Mfeka was a first time offender and a father of five children.
He had co-operated with the police, was willing to testify, and had pleaded guilty to serious charges. He had also shown remorse.
Phoswa said he had decided to take the counts together for sentencing purposes as a sign of mercy. Apart from handing down the jail term, Phoswa also declared Mfeka unfit to own a firearm.
- SAPA
Read more on: crime durban sapf
2010-06-04 20:10
Related Links
Cops 'lose' 5 300 firearms
Cop held after 98 firearms vanish
Durban - A man accused of stealing 98 firearms from the Nanda police station and selling them was sentenced to 20 years' in prison by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban on Friday.
While working as an exhibit clerk at the Nanda police station, Thulisani Trevor Mfeka, 30, stole the firearms and sold them to other policemen and members of the public for personal gain, the court found.
Mfeka pleaded guilty to and was convicted of theft and unlicensed trading on Thursday.
Three policemen were arrested and the station commander was suspended by National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele last month when it was discovered that the firearms were missing.
Sentencing Mfeka on Friday, acting Judge Linus Phoswa voiced puzzlement that the crime had been able to take place at a police station.
"The accused (Mfeka) said in August 2009 a police officer approached him to steal a firearm and sell it to him for R800. This first request started the accused's business venture," he said.
Disturbing
Questioning why a police officer would approach an employee and ask him to steal a gun and buy it from him, he asked: "How is that this was never discovered?"
He also questioned why the exhibit register was not checked and said he found this disturbing.
Phoswa said firearms contributed to violent crimes in the country.
"Do you know what havoc these firearms are causing in the country regarding violent crimes? It would be difficult to trace the firearms," he told Mfeka.
"What clouded his (Mfeka's) mind was greed and self enrichment at the expense of the safety and security for the community," he said.
Mfeka was a civil servant, paid by taxpayers, and he breached their trust, Phoswa said.
However, he noted that the law demanded that there be a balance in sentencing.
He said that Mfeka was a first time offender and a father of five children.
He had co-operated with the police, was willing to testify, and had pleaded guilty to serious charges. He had also shown remorse.
Phoswa said he had decided to take the counts together for sentencing purposes as a sign of mercy. Apart from handing down the jail term, Phoswa also declared Mfeka unfit to own a firearm.
- SAPA
Read more on: crime durban sapf
Investigate stolen guns - DA
2010-06-04 21:30
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20yrs for stealing guns in evidence
Cop held after 98 firearms vanish
Cops 'lose' 5 300 firearms
Durban -
Related Links
20yrs for stealing guns in evidence
Cop held after 98 firearms vanish
Cops 'lose' 5 300 firearms
Durban -
The Democratic Alliance on Friday called for a probe into firearms stolen from police stations in KwaZulu-Natal.This, after police exhibit clerk Thulisani Trevor Mfeka was sentenced to 20 years' in jail for stealing 98 firearms from the Nanda police station and selling them to fellow police officers and the public."An investigation should be conducted as to whether this kind of practice is not happening in other parts of the province," said DA community safety spokesperson Sizwe Mchunu.He said people who knew they had stolen guns in their possession had to be told they would face severe penalties if they tried to evade justice."Members of the police force who have bought these weapons should know better and must be charged."Strong message"By intentionally obtaining weapons through illegal channels, they have not only broken the law but (are) contributing to increasing crime levels."Mchunu said the sentence handed down to Mfeka would send a strong message to other people involved in the same crime."We welcome that one individual was sentenced. This is an indication that the judiciary is taking violent crimes very seriously," he said.Three policemen were arrested and the station commander was suspended by National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele last month when it was discovered that the firearms were missing.Sentencing Mfeka on Friday, acting Judge Linus Phoswa voiced puzzlement that the crime had been able to take place at a police station."The accused (Mfeka) said in August 2009 a police officer approached him to steal a firearm and sell it to him for R800. This first request started the accused's business venture," he said.Questioning why a police officer would approach an employee and ask him to steal a gun and buy it from him, he asked: "How is that this was never discovered?"Violent crimesHe also questioned why the exhibit register was not checked and said he found this disturbing.Phoswa said firearms contributed to violent crimes in the country."Do you know what havoc these firearms are causing in the country regarding violent crimes? It would be difficult to trace the firearms," he told Mfeka."What clouded his (Mfeka's) mind was greed and self enrichment at the expense of the safety and security for the community," he said.Mfeka was a civil servant, paid by taxpayers, and he breached their trust, Phoswa said.The three policemen arrested with Mfeka and two civilians appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. They were granted bail of R3 000 each. The case against them was postponed until June 14.
- SAPA
Read more on: crime durban sapf
- SAPA
Read more on: crime durban sapf
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