An Alex man was sentenced to nine years imprisonment by the Alex Magistrates’ Court for the attempted robbery of a motorist at an intersection in Marlboro.
Sipho Mlambo (35) with a previous criminal record for theft and possession of stolen property for which he served time, was arrested for breaking into the victim’s vehicle while the victim was stopped at a robot at night on 18 January last year. He was denied bail until his recent sentencing.
The convicted criminal smashed the vehicle’s passenger side window, lunged in and tried to yank out the vehicle’s keys. The victim resisted and Mlambo only managed to pull the victim’s house keys off the bunch, before he jumped out of the vehicle.
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The victim also ran away with the vehicle’s keys and was chased by Mlambo after realising. He caught the victim and they tussled for the keys, Mlambo pretended to pull out a firearm but was overpowered by the victim, who held onto him as he tried to get free.
A passing motorist noticed the altercation and assisted the victim to restrain the accused until police officers came and arrested him.
In mitigation, the accused claimed that the victim had bumped him at the robot, resulting in a fight.
Details: 10111.
