FOREIGN NATIONALS SETENCENCED FOR THEFT OF FUEL AND TEMPERING WITH ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
GAUTENG- The Provincial Head of DPCI in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa welcomed the sentencing of Razzack Okai and George Chinyongo who were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each today, Thursday, 20 July 2023 by the Vereeniging Magistrates’ court.
The sentences are as a result of an intensive investigation when on 16 March 2020, the Vaal Rand based Serious Organised Crime Investigation arrested three foreign nationals for tempering with essential infrastructure and theft of fuel at Klipriver where the pair was held for illegal immigration related charges. The third suspect was released. During the investigation, the charges of tempering with essential infrastructure and theft of fuel were placed back on the charge sheet after receiving after receiving statement from Transnet confirming ownership of fuel recovered on all suspects, but unfortunately the released suspect couldn’t be traced anymore and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Bail was successfully denied against Okai and Chinyongo and they have been in custody since their arrest. On Wednesday 05 July 2020 both accused were found guilty by the Vereeniging Magistrate court and were sentenced as follows:
Razzak Okai (Ghanaian) and George Chinyongo (Zimbabwean) were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure and 15 years for theft of Transnet fuel and further sentenced to 6 months imprisoment for contravention of the Immigration Act. The sentences will run concurrently.
Major General Kadwa lauded the sterling work by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation and the prosecution team for such an excellent sentence.
