A false case can land you behind bars
Mnguni was arrested and a charge of perjury was laid against him.
Opening a false case can land you in deep trouble.
This is a short and sweet yet stern warning from the SAPS.
The warning comes in the wake of the arrest and court appearance of Promise Lawrence Mnguni (29) who intentionally fabricated a robbery case on April 16.
According to the report, Mnguni is said to have opened a house robbery case.
He then told police that on the day in question, he heard a strange noise in the yard of his employer’s house, a place where he also resides.
According to him, his employer was not at home at the time of the said incident.
According to his report, he went to investigate and noticed seven armed men whose faces were covered near the door.
He told police that they instructed him to go back to the house, where he was told to open the doors of all the rooms.
Mnguni also told police when he reported the matter that the suspects took three car keys, three television sets, two cars, a black Mercedes Benz A 250 with registration number FP 32 YR GP, and a black Polo with registration number JXZ 994 MP to an estimated value of almost R300 000.
“A robbery case was opened and police began with their investigation with anticipation to bring those responsible to book. On April 23, the investigation team went to Mnguni for further probe. The astute members noticed some inconsistencies in that some of the information that he initially mentioned in his statement, did not tally with the one he gave them when they interviewed him. Mnguni is said to have indicated at first that seven suspects attacked him, but later during the interview, he mentioned only four suspects,” police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli explained.
Police then told him about this discrepancy, and he then admitted that the robbery was staged. He further informed police that all the things he earlier told police during the opening of the case were fabricated to look real, meanwhile, it was untrue.
Mnguni was arrested and a charge of perjury was laid against him.
He has already appeared before the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on April 26. He was remanded in custody and the matter was postponed to June 10, for further investigation.
“The stolen items have not been found as yet however, the investigation thereof is underway,” Col Mdhluli said.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General Thulani Phahla has further warned the community that opening false cases have a huge negative impact on the fight against crime.
“When someone falsely opens a case, resources that were supposed to have been used in areas where they were needed most, are then wasted. Other criminal activities can occur in other areas whilst manpower is misdirected by those who act irresponsibly,” said General Phahla.
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