Control prosecutor from Standerton lands in jail
Mohanwe was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on a charge of corruption, 10 years imprisonment on a charge of fraud and another seven years on a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
The wheels of justice turned slowly, methodically without fear or favour for a former control prosecutor of the Standerton Magistrate’s Court.
Aaron Pule Mohanwe was found guilty on Tuesday, August 16 and effectively sentenced to several years imprisonment.
Mohanwe was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on a charge of corruption, 10 years imprisonment on a charge of fraud and another seven years on a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
Capt Gibi Mtsweni, communications officer of Standerton Police, said the sentences will run concurrently.
The Standerton Advertiser gave front page publicity to his arrest in its edition of August 7, 2020.
Mohanwe was arrested on July 28 that year and first appeared in court on July 30.
He first appeared in the Secunda Magistrate’s Court on April 8 last year, following his re-arrest in connection with contempt of court.
The case was transferred to the Regional Court in Standerton, sitting on April 12 last year.
Brig Leonard Hlathi, former Provincial Commissioner of Police, then issued a statement about the culprit’s alleged solicitation of bribes from suspects in exchange for cases to be either withdrawn, or struck from the roll.
The cases were drug-related.
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/238938/prosecutor-at-standerton-magistrates-court-arrested-after-intelligence-driven-operation/
The source indicated that a specialist advocate from the Director of Public Prosecutions charged Mohanwe, who plead guilty on June 20, on all three counts.
His attorney argued that it was his first offence, that correctional supervision should be considered and submitted psychological reports on how his client’s mental health was affected.
The argument did not hold water and aggravating factors such as Mohanwe’s position as control prosecutor and abuse of power came to the forefront.
The court heard that the integrity of a prosecutor is on another level as the man in the street.
“Dangerous offenders are back into the community due to the dealings of the accused.”
The source applauded the sterling work of police to remove drugs from the community.
According to the source, the magistrate specifically said this type of conduct can not be tolerated.
With regard to the impact on the judicial system, colleagues were devastated as a prosecutor takes an oath to do duties without fear or favour.
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/255834/prosecutor-at-standerton-magistrates-court-re-arrested/
Mohanwe’s criminal conduct came to light when a policeman from Standerton noticed a declaration was changed in a docket.
He reported the matter and a list was subsequently drawn up of drug-related cases that were withdrawn.
According to the source, a 252 A application was made to set a trap.
“Although it was an unconventional way to go about, enough information and facts justified such a trap,” was heard in court.
“People in authority such as the accused, deal in such a way that there are no witnesses.”
The source concluded by saying if not for police and the advocate, who worked well together, Mohanwe would have been as free as a bird.
