Willem ‘Wimpie’ Pretorius, 39, caused a stir in the media after going missing last year.
Initially he was reported missing after dropping his child off at a family members’ home and was searched for by family, friends and the police.
Later significant information emerged about the nature of his missing status and he became wanted not as a missing man but a wanted one.
Wimpie was wanted for assistance in solving a case involving money going missing at a liquor store he was the manager of. The missing money disappeared at the same time he did.
It has now emerged that Wimpie has been found, arrested and found guilty of stealing the missing liquor store money.
According to Captain Appel Ernst, the Randfontein Police spokesperson, Wimpie went missing and a full-scale search was launched by the police. It later came to their knowledge that the missing Wimpie disappeared with approximately R15 000 in cash.
A case docket was opened for the theft and the suspect was traced in September, 2016,” Ernst said.
After various court appearances, Wimpie was found guilty of the theft and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Karlien Coombe was applauded by the Randfontein Police management as well as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for her input into the case.
“We hope that this sentence serves as a deterrent to other like-minded criminals.
“Crime does not pay and this sentence is proof of that,” said Brigadier Mashole Jacob Manamela, the Randfontein station commander.
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