17 years for hijack, kidnap

A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment yesterday for possession of a hijacked motor vehicle and kidnapping by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, Gauteng police said.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said Mabutho Sithabiso Memela was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for possession of a hijacked motor vehicle, and two years for kidnapping.

Six suspects hijacked a truck on December 14, 2016.

“One of the suspects used a wheel spanner to break a side window of the truck and pulled the driver out of a truck. He was taken with a VW Kombi blindfolded and tied with shoe laces; they left him at Bekkersdal. They took a company truck, his cellphone and one thousand rands cash.”

Mbele said the suspect was arrested on the same day when police spotted the vehicle and the driver travelling alone. – ANA