A man received a hefty sentence after robbing a jewellery shop.
Herman Billy Jabar, (43), was sentenced on August 16 by the Witbank Regional Court for robbing a jewellery shop of an undisclosed amount of cash and jewellery.
During sentencing, the court did not hesitate to grant the accused a total of 41 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
For the robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm, Jabar was granted a 15 year jail term on each, 10 years for the attempted murder and 12 months for the unlawful possession of ammunition. The 10 year and 12 months’ jail terms, will run concurrently with the 30 years which he will effectively serve.
The robbery took place on May 13, 2016, just after he was released on parole after being found guilty of murder in 1992.
Jabar’s crime binge began earlier the day when he hit Capt Abel Aphane over his head and robbed him of his firearm. Capt Aphane was part of the crime awareness campaign that was held in the central business district on that day.
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Capt Aphane said he was unconscious after the attack. When he came round he found his firearm was missing.
Nearly three hours later Jabar made his way to American Swiss Jewellery in Botha Street. As a customer left through the security gate, he slipped in and ordered another customer to leave the shop and fired a shot with the firearm he took from Capt Aphane earlier.
Jabar ordered Ms Sarah Matshia, who works in the jewellery shop to put all the jewellery in a bag and also told her to empty the three safes and cash in the bag.
Herman Billy Jabar moments after he was caught in 2016.
In the meantime Mr Dan Jiyane from Secure Access responded to a panic received from one of their clients who heard the gunshot in American Swiss.
When he got close to the scene he noticed a man who had been shot lying outside the jewellery shop. When he went over to assist the man, Jabar shot again and hit Jiyane in the right forearm.
Members of Middelburg K9 unit, who was also part of the crime awareness campaign, heard the shots and rushed to the scene.
Jabar who noticed all the policemen, used Matshia as a shield as he left the jewellery shop. The terrified woman said afterwards he said if he is shot, she would die as well.
Once outside Jabar told Matshia to run and he then started running in the opposite direction.
A member of the K9 unit shot him in the ankle and he was arrested.
All the jewellery and money was found, so was Capt Aphane’s firearm.
“This is a feather in the cap for our members who apprehended Jabar and saw the process through in court successfully,” said Capt Eddie Hall police spokesperson.
