A robber thought to be part of a gang responsible for a spate of robberies in Ladysmith will spend 18 years behind bars after being sentenced on Tuesday (January 23).
The robber and an accomplice were arrested during February 2016 after a shoot-out with police in the Acaciavale area. The two were part of a gang consisting of three men who were allegedly responsible for a spate of robberies that had taken place in the Steadville and Acaciavale areas.
Police set out to arrest the perpetrators, who were said to have used a small red vehicle in their crimes. A tip-off on the evening of February 25 resulted in police intercepting the vehicle on a railway service road in Ladysmith.
The vehicle did not have number plates, and officers instructed the occupants in the front seats to step out of the car. However, instead of obeying the officers’ instructions, the driver sped off.
While this was happening, a suspect in the front seat pulled out a gun and fired at the officers. Police retaliated and after a short chase, the vehicle came to a standstill.
Also read: Firearm recovered after shoot-out between police and suspects
Also read: Stolen vehicle recovered after shoot-out
One of the men fled from the vehicle and ran into dense bush. Police arrested the driver and upon searching him, they found an unlicensed 9mm pistol containing 13 rounds of ammunition. He was not willing to give up the name and address of his accomplice.
The following day, a member of the community noticed that one of his outer rooms at his premises was left open. On entering the room, he discovered a man with an injury. He called an ambulance, as well as police.
Ladysmith K9 officers responded and immediately made the connection. The injured man appeared to be the same one who had been involved in the shooting the previous night. He was arrested and taken for medical assistance.
The accused were sentenced on Tuesday, January 23 this year, in the Ezakheni Regional Court.
The first accused, Stabiso Hadebe (33), was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to trespass, and trespassing. His sentence was suspended for five years. He was found unfit to possess a firearm.
The second accused, Vusi John Hadebe (33), was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a prohibited firearm and three years for possession of ammunition.
The docket was investigated by Sergeant Mynhardt of the Uthukela Cluster Task team. She has been commended for her good work.
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