TSHITALE – Three residents of Mpofu village, Jerry Ndou (28), Mpho Sadiki (20) and Collen Thovhakale (24) were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for armed robbery by the Thohoyandou Regional court last Friday.

The incidents relating to the case took place at Thembisa village and Tshivhuyuni settlement on May 28 and June 13 last year. The court heard that on the day of the first incident (May 28) the accused were hiding in the bushes along the Tshitale road to Thembisa, at about 16:00.

They jumped into the road when they saw the complainant's car approaching. They stood in the middle of the road and one of them pointed a fire-arm at the driver and forced him to stop the vehicle. They then demanded money from the complainant at gunpoint, robbing him of cash amounting to R3 500, before vanishing in the nearby bushes. The same method was used when the accused robbed the same complainant during the second incident that took place along the Tshivhuyuni road to Tshitale.

This time, an amount of R2 300 and a cellular phone were taken. The accused were arrested a week after the second incident, on June 20, at Ms Tshiwela Raswiswi's home. The firearm that had been used in the armed robberies was found in the possession of Raswiswi and she was then charged with the possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Ndou was found guilty on two counts of armed robbery. He was sentenced to 17 years in jail for each count, without the option of paying a fine. Sadike was found guilty on one charge and acquitted on the second one. He was sentenced to 17 years in jail. He was not given the option to pay a fine.

Thovhakale was found guilty on two counts and was sentenced to 15 years in jail for each count. Raswiswi (24) was sentenced to a six months term of imprisonment or to pay a fine of R1 000 for the possession of an unlicensed firearm.