Judge throws book at thieving ex-cop

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Published May 27, 2015

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Rustenburg - A former policeman was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for stock theft by the Mogwase Regional Court, North West police said on Wednesday.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said Baleseng Lucas Serole, 39, was sentenced on Monday.

“At the time of conviction, the accused was serving eight years imprisonment at Rustenburg Correctional Services for stock theft. Upon appearance in court on Monday, the accused was facing charges of stock theft committed in 2010 in Letlhakaneng village in Madikwe.

“He was also facing assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and kidnapping after he kidnapped his brother-in-law from the hospital and assaulted him. He was accusing the brother-in-law of stealing his music system and tyres in 2012 in Ledig near Sun City,” said Mokgwabone.

Serole was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for stock theft and to another three years for assault and kidnapping.

“The court ordered that half of ten years imprisonment must run concurrently with 8 years imprisonment handed to the accused in 2011. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.”

He said Serole was still facing another stock theft case and was due to appear in court on July 14.

North West police commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo said the sentence would serve as a deterrence to other police officers.

“We are reiterating that there is no space for criminals within the South African Police Service and that we will deal harshly with dishonest members who disregard the rule of law. This will hopefully serve as deterrence to other members and convey the message that we are serious about rooting out criminal elements within the Service,” Mbombo said.

ANA

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