State calls for jail time for VIP driver

THE BLUE light driver who left Thomas Ferreira brain damaged when he crashed into him should not get away with a slap on the wrist, the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday.

“The last thing this country needs is for this accused to have a slap on the wrist,” prosecutor Micky Thesner told the court during arguments in aggravation of sentence for Joseph Motsamai Semitjie.

Thesner argued that the rules of the road should apply equally to everyone.

“The court has the unique opportunity to shift its focus to the only real VIP that was on the road that day, and it was Thomas Ferreira,” she said.

Thesner disagreed with the sentence of correctional supervision and a fine proposed earlier by Semitjie’s lawyer, Thomas Mohlobogoane. “The sentence suggested is wholly

Accused – there to serve and protect –

did the opposite

inappropriate,” she said.

Thesner suggested Semitjie should be sent to jail. “The accused very clearly acted recklessly. This accused was employed with the SA Police Service, specifically there to serve and protect his community, and what he did was the complete opposite.”

Thesner said Semitjie had not shown remorse and was more worried about the damage to his vehicle than to the harm he had done to a human being.

Semitjie was driving then Gauteng housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi to a meeting when he crashed into Ferreira, who was on a motorbike, in November 2011. During the trial, the court heard that Semitjie was driving on the left side of the yellow line, had not switched on his siren and went through a red traffic light.

Ferreira, who was 18 at the time, suffered head injuries and was comatose for several weeks. He spent months in rehabilitation and will have to live with severe mental problems for the rest of his life.

Sentencing is expected to continue on January 28. – Sapa