THOHOYANDOU – The Thohoyandou Regional Court has convicted and sentenced a former inmate to a total of six years and nine month imprisonment, for stealing a police docket, attempted bribery, malicious damage to property and an attempt to defeat the ends of justice.

Evidence before the court was that on May 15, 1995, Thikhathali Erson Phusuphusu Mmbobo (37) also known as "Mr Action," was arrested for various charges of fraud. He appeared in court and was granted bail. While he was out on bail, the accused approached a police officer and offered to pay him money on condition that he steals a docket for him.

The officer agreed, but he informed his colleagues about the offer made to him by the accused. Police immediately made copies of the docket as a preventative measure should the docket get lost.

On the trial date, a certain RL Luvhimbe was shocked to find the docket, which he had put on the table in the courtroom, was missing. A search was conducted and the docket was nowhere to be found.

After some few days, the accused was arrested and he pointed out the spot where he had burnt the stolen docket.

Reference numbers of the docket could also be seen on the pieces of the burnt papers.

Mmbobo maintained his innocence throughout the trial. He also blamed the police for whatever happened.

The court dismissed the accused's evidence as false and convicted him as charged on all counts. Adv Ratshilumela Makhera, a Senior State Advocate, requested the court to impose a sentence that will give the accused enough time to be reformed.

He said it was disturbing for a docket to be stolen from the courtroom where justice is to be administered.

The accused was sentenced to five years imprisonment for theft of the docket, twelve months for defeating the ends of justice and nine months for attempted bribery.

Mmbobo had a string of previous convictions, involving fraud and theft.