MAKHADO – A disgraced police officer, Insp Mathlodi Lenah Mamadi (42) of Musina SAPS, who took 1,3 million Zimbabwe dollars from a Zimbabwean, Lebo Sithole, received a lenient sentence in the Makhado regional court on April 29.

The court heard that she held a temporary roadblock on November 5, 2002, with a police reservist, Marcus Oupa Mudau, 8 km from the Beit Bridge border post. Insp Mamadi, who joined the police in 1986, then took the money from Lebo Sithole from Zimbabwe, who frequently visits South Africa for business purposes. The victim is also reported to have lost her cellphone and about R100 at the roadblock.

Mamadi, who had already been found guilty on March 29, shocked the court on April 20 when she announced that she had parted ways with advocate Letsema, and that she would be represented by Adv MJ Mushasha.

During the court proceedings on April 29, Mushasha requested the court to impose a suspended sentence or a sentence with an option of a fine on his first-offender client. The convicted inspector also requested a suspended sentence, so that she could look after her three children aged 17, 14 and 9.

"In sentencing you, I have the duty to give you a sentence that will make other people lose interest in committing this kind of crime. Even first offenders do go to prison and the more aggravating issue in your case is that you are a police officer, who is known and trusted by the community to maintain law and order," said regional magistrate Ronnie Rambau during the court proceedings. He added that, even though she was remorseful, the South African society wants to know what the court of law is doing. He said that the offence was never done by mistake, but by intention and she might have planned to commit it.

"In sentencing you, I have to restore the lost trust in the SAPS to the members of the public because of you. Now, in the name of mercy and as requested by your advocate, you deserve a three-year sentence with an option of a fine," said Rambau when sentencing her.