Three sentenced for robbery of foreign journalists
2010-06-12 16:36
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Three men have been sentenced for the armed robbery of three foreign journalists in Magaliesburg, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said today.


Advocate Menzi Simelane said: “Two of the accused were convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each.”

He added that a third was convicted of receiving stolen property and was sentenced to four years imprisonment.


Zimbabwean national Bright Madzudzu, Obunna Ndzubuisi from Nigeria and George Magubane also from Zimbabwe, were convicted and sentenced in the Protea regional court in Soweto last night.


One Spanish and two Portuguese journalists – Antonio Simoes, Rui Gustavo and Miquel Cerano – were asleep in their room at the Nutbush Boma lodge in Magaliesburg on Wednesday morning when the robbers broke into the room.


Armed with a firearm and knife, the robbers stole items including cameras, laptops, clothes, a passport and cash in Euros and US dollars.


Police have recovered some of the items.


The estimated value of the stolen property is R388 000.


In a statement, national Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele and Police Minister Nathi Mthetwa said they were “pleased” and “satisfied” with the work of the police and the NPA.


Cele said: “I am very pleased that the system put in place between the SAPS and the NPA to deal with offences relating to the World Cup quickly has proved to be effective.”


Mthethwa said: “It took police no more than 24 hours to arrest these lunatic scoundrels.

It further took the justice department no more than 48 hours to sentence them.”


Dedicated teams of detectives have been assigned to work on serious crimes linked to the World Cup.

The NPA has established 56 dedicated courts, with assigned prosecutors and magistrates, to process these cases as quickly as possible.

Eight cases have been heard thus far.