ERMELO – Sello Jerry Thomo (50) was found guilty and sentenced in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on June 1 for 50 counts of corruption and fraud.

According to Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, the spokesman for Hawks Mpumalanga, he was arrested by members of the Hawks Mpumalanga Serious Corruption Investigation unit in October 2007.

Thomo had worked at the Ermelo licensing office and had been responsible for issuing learner’s and driver’s licences.

The investigation revealed that Thomo had fraudulently issued learner’s and driver’s licences to people who had not been tested.

Licence holders testified in court that they had paid money to get them without being tested.

“He was found guilty for corruption and was sentence to nine years’ imprisonment of which three years is suspended for five years. He was sentenced for four years’ imprisonment for fraud and the sentences will run concurrently.”

The provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Maj Gen Zodwa Mokoena, applauded the investigation team and judiciary for securing such sentence.

She further acknowledged the community members who had had the courage to stand up in court and testify against the wrongdoers. She pleaded with all members of the community to report such types of occurrences.