A former McDonald’s employee was sentenced by the Pretoria North magistrate’s court to 10 years direct imprisonment for extortion and malicious damage to property.

The sentencing follows Clement Othusitse Seothaeng (27), originally from Pampierstad in Northern Cape Province, who was working at McDonald’s restaurant in Montana, spat saliva in ice cream.

NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Seothaeng was a crew member for two years at McDonald’s.

“On September 23, 2017, while at work Seothaeng recorded himself in a 20-second video clip with his phone preparing a McFlurry ice cream without showing his face, just a person wearing a uniform. However, when preparing it, he spat inside the McFlurry ice cream, mixed it and closed the cap.”

Mahanjana said after recording himself, he sent the clip to the manager with a different number as a concerned customer demanding R150 000, to avoid the video being circulated on social media.

“The manager reported the matter to the police and immediately a trap was set up and Seothaeng was arrested a few days later on September 29, 2017.”

She said the prosecutor, David Molokomme asked the court to impose a fitting sentence to reflect society’s disapproval of such improper and illegal behaviour, using social media for anti-social behaviour.

Mahanjana said Seothaeng was given 10 years for extortion and five years for malicious damage to property.

“The magistrate ordered that the sentences run concurrently.”

She said the NPA welcomed the sentence.