Trio sentenced to 195 years for hijacking, kidnapping and murder

THREE Northern Cape men, who hijacked a man at gunpoint before kidnapping him, were sentenced to a combined 195 years behind bars.

The trio - Katlego Sebolai, 32, Keobakile Obuseng, 25, and Neo Dikwidi, 22 - were each sentenced to 25 years for murder, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, seven years for kidnapping, 10 years for the illegal possession of firearms and eight years for the illegal possession of ammunition by the Mothibistad Regional Court.

The sentences will run concurrently.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the accused were also all declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The incident took place on June 10, 2019, when the accused accosted a man who was on his way to his vehicle after making purchases at a shop in Batlharos village, near Kuruman.

Senokoatsane said that the man was held at gunpoint, hijacked and placed in the boot of his vehicle.

“The accused demanded the victim's bank card and PIN number and made cash withdrawals at an ATM. They drove around with him before they decided to park the car at one of their homes.”

Senokoatsane added that the police began an intensive search for the missing person and the stolen car that was reported to the police on June 11, 2019.

“The vehicle was spotted at Damros village, Mothibistad and upon approaching the vehicle one of the suspects pointed a firearm and was fatally shot by one of the police officers.

“The suspect died on the scene and the others were arrested. The complainant was rescued from the boot.”

Senokoatsane explained that the accused were charged with the murder of the suspect because their actions led to him being shot by the police.

Senokoatsane said that the case was investigated by the Hawks and the Kuruman Serious Organised Crime Investigation team after a string of hijacking and kidnapping cases were reported around the John Taolo Gaotsewe district.

“During the trial, State prosecutor Ramosa Ramothepane motivated that the court should impose a sentence of life imprisonment for the murder charge, due to the serious nature and circumstances of the offence. The regional court found exceptional and compelling circumstances in mitigation of the personal circumstances of the accused and deviated from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

“The NPA applauds the work of Ramothepane, his colleagues and the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Mathule.

“The Northern Cape provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major-General Steve Mabuela, welcomed the collective 195-year jail sentence imposed on the accused.”