35-year-old man sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for business robbery and other crimes
Police commends Randburg Magistrate Court for sentencing shop robber 15 years of imprisonment
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Randburg Magistrates’ Court sentenced 35-year-old Phuthi Tjelele to 15 years of imprisonment for business robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and attempted murder.
Diepsloot Police Station spokesperson Tinyiko Mathebula said Tjelele was arrested in March 2017.
“On the evening of 29 March 2017, Tjelele and his accomplices robbed a shop in Diepsloot Ext 2 and fled in a white VW Polo. Before fleeing, they fired two shots and a stray bullet hit a bystander in the leg.”
Mathebula said police responded swiftly to the incident and started looking for the robbers’ vehicle.
“A vehicle matching the description given by eyewitnesses was spotted driving along the N14 highway. After pulling over the vehicle, two suspects managed to flee on foot leaving the [accused] behind. A search was conducted and a firearm was found in possession of the [accused].”
Mathebula added that through intensive investigative work, the accused was linked to the crime through evidence and being identified by the victims.
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