Even his lawyer believes flamboyant crime boss William “King of Bling” Mbatha should be kept behind bars for a long time.
Defence lawyer Francois Roets pleaded with the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday to sentence Mbatha to a maximum of 25 years in jail.
The State argued that Mbatha – who has been found guilty on 18 counts, including five of robbery with aggravating circumstances – deserved a sentence of between 60 and 75 years.
Mbatha planned and executed a number of robberies in Joburg in which wealthy business people were stripped of cash, jewellery and luxury possessions by bogus police officers.
Born and bred in Atteridgeville and known for his flamboyant lifestyle and his expensive tastes, Mbatha spent his ill-gotten gains on luxury vehicles, bikesand clothing that he loved to display.
He has also been found guilty on four counts of illegal possession of a firearm, three of pretending to be a police officer, three of kidnapping, and three of unlawful wearing of a police uniform.
During his trial, the court heard how Mbatha and his accomplices, using plastic bags, would often suffocate their victims until they gave up their possessions.
Now Mbatha stands to lose almost all of his possessions as a court granted an order on Wednesday that allows the Asset Forfeiture Unit to confiscate most of his assets.
The unit carried out the order on Thursday.
The State has alleged that Mbatha’s wealth was ill-gotten and that he led a life of crime, while earning a reputation as a man of expensive tastes.
The State dismissed Roets’s claim that Mbatha had lost “everything” since being taken into custody two years ago.
It cited his interests in a number of companies and the valuable items he claimed to own and which he listed in an affidavit submitted to court during his bail hearing in 2009.
The State also filed an application for an inquiry that might lead to an order for the confiscation of his remaining assets, which are also alleged to have been acquired through crime.
Mbatha stood quietly in the dock and refused to give evidence in mitigation of sentence, leaving it to his lawyer to argue why the court should show mercy.
“It is my instruction, my lordship, that my client is not remorseful about these crimes and is adamant that he is innocent of the crimes he has been convicted of,” Roets said.
“The best I can do for my client is to pray that whatever sentence is meted out, is not done to break him. It must be meted out also with due regard to the weakness of human beings to fall into temptation.”
Mbatha had virtually no support from friends or family, with only three unidentified men speaking to him briefly during breaks in court proceedings.
Roets also asked the court to consider, among other factors, that Mbatha had two children – aged eight and 17 – and that his wife, Yvonne, would not be able to support them on the R8 000 a month generated by the Ramsquare Café the couple owned in Atteridgeville.
He argued that, since his arrest, Mbatha had lost the monthly income of R100 000 that his businesses had provided.
Roets told the court he was “praying” that the sentence handed to Mbatha would not be “from a place of wrath”.
But the State was adamant that Mbatha deserved a severe sentence, particularly because of the trauma that his robbery victims endured.
State prosecutor Elize le Roux argued that Mbatha had acted ruthlessly and should be sentenced for a period that would “take him out of society for a long time”.
“The facts in this case speak for themselves,” she said.
“The accused showed no mercy for his victims and acted with callousness.
“Of course, there should be factors taken into account when sentencing him, but it is clear that his victims were traumatised and overwhelmed by the circumstances that the accused and his accomplices put them under.
“His crimes were committed out of greed and people were specifically targeted.
“He has built his wealth and empire on other people’s loss and sorrow.
“(His crimes) were meticulously planned, including the acquisition of police uniforms and lights.”
Sentencing has been set down for April 11. - Pretoria News