POLOKWANE – The woman arrested for snatching a six-week-old baby in Mokopane last month has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, Anna Matjila appeared before the Mokopane Regional Court on a charge of child stealing on Tuesday, 23 April after being denied bail during her first appearance on 15 April 2019.
Mojapelo, in a statement released, said Matjila and her boyfriend were arrested in Ga-Mphela Village outside Polokwane by a high level task team during a sting joint operation conducted in Polokwane and the surrounding areas on Saturday, 13 April 2019. The kidnapped child was also found in their possession unharmed.
Read more: Kidnapped Mokopane baby found unharmed, young couple arrested
The duo’s arrest followed an intensive search operation by police in Mokopane after a six-week-old baby boy was snatched at the Mokopane shopping centre on 28 March 2019.
Read more: Baby snatched from Mokopane Shopping Center, manhunt launched for suspect
“The case against her boyfriend (23) was withdrawn pending further police investigations,” Mojapelo’s statement concluded.
