Suspected SA drug dealer nabbed
Lebogang Mosikare | Thursday January 12, 2017 09:36
The police nabbed Ishmael Ledwaba, 38, of Shoshanguve, Pretoria, on December 11, 2016, at Thapama Hotel where he had parked his car.
Wearing a Mamelodi Sundowns football replica, Ledwaba admitted to being unlawfully found in possession of dagga when he was brought to the court for arraignment on Wednesday. The cannabis weighed close to 14 kilogrammes and was surreptitiously hidden in various parts along the body of the car.
According to the facts of the case, on December 11, 2016, the police received information that a certain grey Renault Sanvero of registration number DV 75 LP GP was ferrying dagga in Francistown.
“Acting on the information, the police traced the motor vehicle and found it parked at Thapama Hotel. The accused person was found in the Renault as its driver.
The police introduced themselves to him and informed him of the nature of their visit,” according to the facts of the matter.
The police conducted preliminary investigations by searching the Renault and found a brown cellotape object by the engine side and on the front bumper.
“The police could not remove the cellotape hence they decided to take the vehicle to their office at the Francistown Police Station to conduct a search in the morning. On December 12, 2106, the police engaged vehicle technicians from the police Transport and Telecommunications Branch (TTB) and the Central Transport Organisation (CTO) to assist them with the stripping and search of the car,” the facts continued.
On the front bumper seven ball-like objects wrapped in brown envelope were recovered from the right rear door panel as well as six oval shaped objects wrapped in brown cellotape.
The facts added: “The search extended to the spare wheel tyre of the car where seven oval-shaped ball like structures wrapped in brown cellotape were recovered.
The total of these wrappings was 33 and were suspected to be dagga”.
The 33 substances were taken to the forensic laboratory for analysis and the result of the test indicated that all the substances were cannabis.
Questioned by Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi, Ledwaba said his “stupidity” made him possess the cannabis.
Basupi postponed the matter to January 13 saying that he wanted to give Ledwaba sufficient time to answer the question because it was crucial to the charge he was facing.
Prison officials were then ordered to help Ledwaba call his relatives in South Africa. This was after Ledwaba told the court that the prosecution was refusing to help him communicate with some people in South Africa.
Prosecutor Mompoloki Gaboiphiwe from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) represented the state in the matter.