A man who committed a cash-in-transit robbery in the Graskop area 22 years ago was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by the Nelspruit Regional Court 1 on Wednesday.

David Duba (49) was already serving a 25-year sentence for a cash-in-transit robbery that had occurred in Klerksdorp in October 2017, when he was linked back to the 22-year-old case.

The Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (Hawks) spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said Duba was found guilty on two charges of attempted murder and for armed robbery.

“The sentence followed an incident that took place on the morning of April 17, 2000, at about 11:45,” said Sekgotodi.

She said Duba had attacked a Coin armed van (AV) between Graskop and Bushbuckridge.

“It is alleged that on the day in question, a group of heavily armed criminals accosted the AV, stormed it and managed to escape with close to R1m cash.

“In 2022, the case was handed over to the Hawks Nelspruit-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit for further probing. During the investigation, Duba was linked to the crime scene through fingerprints,” said Sekgotodi.

She said that once Duba had been linked, he was requisitioned from prison on June 30, 2022, and appeared in the Graskop Magistrate’s Court. He was remanded in custody until Wednesday, August 10, when he was found guilty and was given a further 25 years’ imprisonment.

The Mpumalanga Hawks’ head, Major General Zodwa Mokoena, applauded the determination and dedication of the investigating team and the prosecution authorities.

“As the Hawks we shall leave no stone unturned. We shall continue to have good relations with the community to curb and uproot the thorns from it,” she said.