Lawrence Sibanda (27) has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for an armed robbery at a business on 1 October last year at PDT Transport in President Park.
Sibanda was arrested on 5 October the same year in Mayibuye and sentenced after he spent close to a year at the Johannesburg Central Prison as he was refused bail due to being an illegal immigrant and deemed a flight risk.
Detective Sergeant Ngwako Mateta was handling this case and is pleased about the conviction. “Sibanda and three other men held the owner and staff of PDT Transport hostage at about 10.30am whilst demanding money and cellphones from the victims,” said Mateta.
According to the police, the owner of the transport company had withdrawn a large sum of money at Boulder’s Mall earlier that day and suspects the robbers knew this when they targeted the business. Sibanda and his accomplices got away with R21 000 and seven cellphones.
“During police investigations, one of the staff members identified one of the suspects as a colleague who had only worked there for two days,” said Mateta.
More was revealed when it came to the police’s attention that Sibanda had an older brother working at the same company. “Our investigations revealed that the elder brother was the mastermind behind the robbery but used his younger brother and friends to see it through. Eventually, both brothers and two co-accused were arrested, with one suspect never being found.
“In the end, only one suspect was sentenced and the three were acquitted because the court could not find evidence linking them to the crime committed.”
Spokesperson for Midrand Police Station, Warrant Officer Mmakgomo Semono said he is pleased that the station is doing well in arresting criminals and getting them sentenced, as it means they are doing their duty to protect society, and the community is becoming a safer place.
“Reporting on success stories and justice is not only a victory for the police but also a victory in the fight against crime,” concluded Semono.
Details: Midrand Station Police 011 347 1600/26.
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