Due to Det-Sgt Sam Molopyane’s hard work and persistence, a convicted murderer, rapist and house robber was sentenced to life imprisonment, recently.
Molopyane, from the Elsburg SAPS, has been praised by his station commander Col Linah Thethe and his colleagues for his excellent work.
His investigation began when a musician was raped and murdered and a teenage girl was raped and robbed in their Rondebult home on December 21, 2015.
“After finishing their evil deeds the four suspects fled the scene on foot,” said Const Daphney Phooko, communications officer for the Elsburg police.
“As the investigation began Tsolo Nako Ephraim came to the police and tried to mislead them in their investigation.
“But the community had provided the police with information regarding Ephraim and the teenage victim had compiled an identity kit of Ephraim and he was later apprehended by Molopyane.”
Ephraim was positively identified by the teenage girl during an identification parade at Boksburg Prison.
He appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court and was denied bail and remanded in custody while his trial was in progress.
“During the trial he never gave a statement stating that he had not committed the crimes nor did he say sorry to the victim and her family,” said Phooko.
“He was found guilty, convicted and sentenced on five charges, namely 18 years for aggravated robbery, life imprisonment for murder and three life imprisonment sentences for rape.”
Phooko said the management of the Elsburg Police Station thanks all stakeholders in this case, including the Rondebult community (which submitted a petition to the magistrate to ask that bail be denied and supported the victim in court during the trial), the informers and police officers who helped Molopyane in his investigation and the Department of Justice for its fair conviction on behalf of the heartbroken family.
“This conviction and sentencing can be viewed as setting an example to criminals in our society of how the law operates and shows them they will rot in jail for their deeds,” said Phooko.
The other three suspects involved in the case are still at large.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Rondebult residents say ‘Enough is enough’
Man allegedly rapes 13-year-old
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