Thief assaulted by community, jailed for 15 years
Police praised for putting criminals behind bars
Crime does not pay, as Sporo Zweli Hlela recently found out.
The 40-year-old from Dundee was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for business robbery after he pleaded guilty in the Newcastle Regional Court on April 14.
The court heard how he robbed a Koppie Allen Farm shop owner, at kifepoint, in November, 2015.
He stabbed the shop owner before fleeing with R4 000. Community members, who were alerted to the crime gave chase, and upon finding the stolen money on him, assaulted him.
He was rushed to Madadeni Hospital along with the shop owner he had just stabbed.
He was kept under police guard until he was fit to stand trial. Station Commander, Major Ntanda praised investigating officer, Detective W/O SA Mgabhi for ensuring that Hlela was put behind bars for a long time.
