NELSPRUIT- An unemployed 21-year-old man pleaded guilty to the theft of goods worth over R6000 from a well-known retail shop in town.
Mr Ras Mahlangu appeared in the Nelspruit District Court on February 17 for the crime he committed at Game Stores on February 15.
He pleaded guilty to have stolen two Sony DVD players, microwave cookware, towels and other items worth an estimated cost of R6140, 95.
On the day he question Mahlangu pretended to be shopping like other customers and then pushed his trolley loaded with the items without paying them.
He was arrested on his way at the exist of the shop by security personnel.
“I am guilty as charged, I stole the said items for my personal gain and was arrested at the exist of the shop,” he said in court through his legal aid representative.
In arguing for a sutable sentence , the state prosecutor mentioned that the accused planned the offence and added that similar offences were most prevalent around Nelspruit. He states that the value of the items was so high and pleaded with the presiding magistrate Mrs Christa Du Plessis to find a suitable sentence for the accused which will serve as a lesson to him.
“He placed the items in the trolley and pushed it through the exist thinking that no one would see him. This is indeed a serious offence, if he was successful the shop would have suffered a loss of over R6000,” said the prosecutor.
It was heard that the sentence should not only detain the suspect but also help him to rehabilitate.
“Part of the sentence will hang over your head to remind you not to commit crime,” added Du Plessis.
Duplessis then sentenced Mahlanu to twelve months in prison with a fine option of R5000 of which R4000 and eight months is suspended for five years, which means that Mahlangu was sentenced to pay a R1000 fine or spend four months in prison.
