Cop basher jailed for five years
Lebogang Mosikare | Thursday March 31, 2016 11:45
When sentencing Kagiso Sebokolodi yesterday, Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi said he was convinced that the accused was a hardcore criminal who never learns from his past mistakes.
Sebokolodi was found guilty of assaulting on duty police officer Mpho Pule, at Monarch on January 5, 2016. “The world we live in now has changed from the one we used to live in in the past. These days, there are people who are saddened by the presence of police officers in their vicinity while in the past, people would be happy and feel safe when police officers were in their vicinity. Form BP 73 shows that the complainant sustained a laceration on his upper front of the teeth,” said Basupi. He said what compounded Sebokolodi’s woes is the fact that he has numerous previous offences similar to the one he was currently facing.
“In my view, you are a habitual perpetrator because in 2003, you were convicted of theft and received three strokes. In 2006, you were convicted of malicious damage to property and given three strokes. In 2007, you were convicted of common assault and given four strokes and in the same year again, you committed the same offence and you received four strokes,” the magistrate said.
Again in 2008, Sebokolodi was found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm and was given three strokes and the magistrate expressed concern that the accused has been caned 20 times but is not willing to repent.
To curb offences of this nature, Basupi added, the courts must pass harsher sentences that would deter others from assaulting police officers and anyone carrying out their professional duties. “When passing sentence I do so bearing in mind that the accused has pleaded guilty to the offence, which is a sign of remorse and he did not waste the court’s time.
Balancing the society’s interests against that of the accused, I sentence him to five years in jail and after he is certified fit by a medical practitioner, he shall also receive five strokes although his past criminal record tend to show that strokes do nothing to him. The accused has the right to appeal his sentence and conviction in 14 days if he is not satisfied,” Basupi concluded. Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man of Palapye was arraigned for allegedly stealing a motor vehicle. The state alleges that Masego Kwagoyang stole a Toyota Hilux D4D valued at P190,000, belonging to Mall Automobile Company at Ntshe location on March 3, 2016.
State representative, Sergeant Mbatshi Mafa, told the court that the state does not object to the accused being granted bail adding that their investigations are just about complete.
Granting the accused bail, Basupi said the value of the car allegedly stolen is excessive.
“The accused shall be given bail on condition that he pays P10,000, bring two sureties who shall each pay P5,000, not interfere with state witnesses, report to the nearest police station every Monday and come to court whenever required to do so,” said Basupi.