EVANDER – The Evander Regional Court convicted Rethabile Chabedi (27) to 10 years’ imprisonment on Tuesday, 16 July, for dealing in drugs following a thorough Hawks’ investigation.
Chabedi and Chubuike Faithful Ani (47) were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit In December 2017, following a tipoff that they were transporting drugs near eMbalenhle.
The vehicle fitting the description, was stopped and searched and methcathinone, commonly known as ‘kat’, worth R250 000 was seized.
The court sentenced Ani to a fine of R1 500 for contravening the Immigration Act, and acquitted him on other charges.
He was further found to be illegally in the country.
The Department of Home Affairs was ordered to facilitate Ani’s deportation process.
Following a plea agreement, Chabedi was sent to jail for 10 years.
According to the Hawks’ spokesman , Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, the magistrate found it strange that Chabedi took blame for the drugs, effectively exonerating the other accused.
