Two men imprisoned for armed robbery
Both accused were found in possession of cellphones stolen from the victims.
The Thaba Chweu Regional Court sentenced two men to 15 years imprisonment each for charges of robbery with a firearm, attempted murder and for being illegal immigrants.
Surprise Chauke (41) and Augustos Magaya (33) were sentenced on August 21.
The magistrate also declared the accused unfit to carry firearms.
Read: Armed men rob learners at winter school camp
On February 9, 2017 the armed duo, along with four other men, attacked farm workers who were on a truck to the Sabie Hendriksdal dal plantation. Shots were fired. The driver stopped the truck, one of the suspects went to the driver’s side, two men went to the passenger’s side, and they demanded the victims’ cellphones, which they were handed. The other three went to the back of the truck. The accused instructed the passengers to throw their cellphones in a black plastic bag, and when all this was done, they ran to the bush.
One passenger was injured. Police investigations led to the arrest of the above mentioned two men. One of them was found in possession of three of the stolen cellphones and the other with five.
The two appeared several times at the Sabie Magistrate Court and were denied bail. Subsequently the case was transferred to the Graskop Regional Court for trial, leading to the sentence.
