Duo sentenced for possession of gvt trophy

Lebogang Mosikare | Wednesday June 10, 2015 15:15

The sentences were wholly suspended for three years on condition that they do not commit any offence. In addition, they were each fined P2,000 payable within seven days failing which they shall each serve one year in prison. 

The men were sentenced after they pleaded guilty to the offence last month. Nthebolang and Elias were found with a three-metre python that they had killed and skinned at Sekukwe lands on April 18.

Sentencing the accused, Basupi said that he took into account that they were first offenders that also pleaded guilty to the crime thereby saving the court’s precious time.

Basupi said the offence carries a combined maximum sentence of five years in jail and a P5,000 fine.

 “I am compelled to temper justice with mercy and pass a lighter sentence because the accused have admitted to the offence. I also take into account that you are bread winners of your respective families and other factors that you said in mitigation,” said Basupi.

However, Basupi said that he was not convinced that the accused were not aware that the creature they had killed was a python.

He said that he wondered how the accused managed to kill the python because it is a dangerous animal that can kill people.

“In my view this shows that you are experts in killing pythons although the prosecution did not prove that. 

The offence you have committed is a setback to government efforts of conserving the environment,” said Basupi.