Driving stolen car earns man eight years in jail
ANOTHER reminder that being in possession of stolen property is a punishable offence was delivered in the Durban Magistrate’s Court this week.
First-time offender Siyabonga Arnold Madlala was sentenced to eight years imprisonment after it was established by the State that he was the driver of a Nissan NP200 that was previously reported stolen.
Madlala was spotted driving the missing vehicle near Illovo by a security officer who then gave chase.
He attempted to evade the officer, Louis van Ryneveld of ET Rapid Response, but ended up in a cul-desac in Illovo.
Madlala and his passenger abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby bushes.
But he was found by Maximus, a member of the Umlazi K9 unit.
Maximus’ handler, Sergeant Zwelinkosi Nkwanyana, found the vehicle’s makeshift key in Madlala’s possession and arrested him.
Madlala was initially charged with theft and pleaded not guilty.
He did not deny being in the vehicle at the time of his arrest. However, he said he was a passenger who got a lift from the driver, who was a stranger to him.
Owing to a lack of sufficient evidence, he was convicted by magistrate Sophie Reddy on a lesser charge of possession of stolen property.
The State was represented by prosecutor Thami Njapha.
The vehicle was reported stolen in the Durban North area in April last year.
A few weeks later, the vehicle was picked up on the metro police’s Sniper LPR camera in the vicinity of Illovo.
Van Reyenveld noticed the NP200 within minutes of its details being circulated on police and security radio channels.
During his testimony, Van Reyenveld described the clothing worn by the two men in the vehicle.
He said the driver (Madlala) had a beard, wore blue jeans, a blue jacket and white sneakers, while the other person wore dark pants and a leather jacket.