TWO armed robbers were sentenced to 15 years behind bars for two separate crimes at the Durban Regional Court recently.
Aldo Gregory Bloem, 22, and Adrian Mark Williams, 21, were convicted and sentenced for robbing two people in the Wentworth area on October 12, 2021. They were also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Captain Mbuso Gumede, the Wentworth police spokesperson said, in the first incident, a 38-year-old e-hailing driver was robbed in Austerville Drive.
“The victim received a request for a trip to Montclair and picked up the men. However, along the way, one of the men produced a firearm and robbed the driver of his cellphone.
“The victim proceeded to the Wentworth police station to report the case. While at the station, he spotted the men and identified them to the police at the station. Both men were arrested and detained for armed robbery,” he said.
Gumede said a short while later, a 19-year-old reported that he had been robbed by two men while walking along Silvertree Road.
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“The victim said he was stopped by the two men and that they had asked for the time. He said one of the men grabbed him and pulled off his gold chain. He said the other man showed him a firearm and thereafter unclipped his watch,” he said.
Gumede said Detective Sergeant Sibonelo Nzama was assigned to the case and swiftly collected all necessary evidence and charged both men with armed robbery for both incidents.
“Following several court appearances, both men were found guilty and sentenced to 15 years for each crime. However, the sentences will run concurrently,” he said.
Colonel Sinayo Mtshali, the Wentworth police station commander, said she commended Detective Sergeant Nzama for effecting the arrest and ensuring that crimes related to the e-hailing services industry are dealt with.
“These crimes are a great concern in the Wentworth area, however, police will deal with the perpetrators of these crimes seriously. Furthermore, heavy sentences are being imposed by the courts to deal with such unbecoming behaviour.
“ The police are also urging all e-hailing drivers to exercise extra caution when they receive a request and to report or drive to the nearest police station should they feel concerned or suspect suspicious activities. The community is also kindly urged to report those that are involved in these crimes,” she said.
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