British American Tobacco vehicle hijackers sentenced
Four men were sentenced by the Durban Regional Court for armed robbery, possession of stolen property, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
KWAZULU-Natal police management has welcomed the sentence handed down to the hijackers of British American Tobacco vehicles in Durban which was reported four years ago. Four men were sentenced by the Durban Regional Court for armed robbery, possession of stolen property, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Sphelele Goodman Nene (23), Menzi Mlamuli Mweli (30), Handsome Nyoko (24) and Thembinkosi Mwelase (23) were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for robbery, five years for possession of stolen property. Sphelele Goodman Nene was further sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm and a further two years for possession of ammunition.
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“On 4 November 2015 at 9.20am, the victim was driving his British American Tobacco vehicle at Burlington Road in Chatsworth, when he was approached by a group of men who were travelling in a sedan. The accused threatened the victim with firearms and hijacked his vehicle. The accused men then loaded the boxes of cigarettes into their vehicle and fled the scene.
“A case of hijacking was opened at Chatsworth police station for further investigation. Stations and Units around the Chatsworth area as well as Provincial Organised Crime Unit were alerted following the hijacking and the description of vehicle used by suspects was given to them,” said provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane.
Police officers later spotted the hijacked vehicle in Mariannhill and a shoot-out ensued. Four of the accused were arrested and a firearm used during the robbery was recovered. The hijacked vehicle and boxes of cigarettes were also recovered.
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