THE ACTING PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER OF THE POLICE IN LIMPOPO HAILS THE HEFTY SENTENCE METED OUT TO THE DUO FOR ROBBERY AND THEFT
POLOKWANE: The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo Major General Jan Scheepers welcomed the hefty sentence meted out to the duo by Mokopane Regional Court for robbery with aggravating circumstances , unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as well as possession of stolen motor vehicle.
The two accused, Thabo Tswele aged 32 years and Tshepo Vusi Baloyi aged 40 years were found guilty on four counts of charges, convicted and were sentenced to a combined 73 years imprisonment on Wednesday 26 April 2023.
The court heard that the accused committed four criminal offences on Friday 15 October 2021 in Mokopane town by robbing a businessman an undisclosed amount of cash money at the entrance of a bank and fled the scene driving a white Volkswagen Golf with a cloned registration number plates. Investigations revealed that the cloned number plate is for a Volkswagen Golf belonging to the SAPS Limpopo .
Furthermore it was heard that the accused were arrested on the same day following a swift reaction and a chase that ensued at Polokwane near Meropa Casino and Entertainment World by the members of the SAPS Limpopo Highway patrol and the accused. Police recovered firearms and an undisclosed amount of money during the arrest.
It is reported that the case was then transferred to the SAPS Provincial Murder and Robbery unit and the docket was assigned to Detective Sergeant Noko Mashitisho for investigations and he successfully opposed bail against the two accused who remained .in custody until the final court appearance and sentencing.
The two accused ,Thabo Tswele , aged 32 and Tshepo Vusi Baloyi aged 40 were convicted and sentenced as follows, Tswele 38 years imprisonment while Tshepo Vusi Baloyi 40 to 35 years imprisonment.
