Armed robbers sentenced to 12 years in prison

MPHO MOKWAPE
Correspondent | Friday August 10, 2012 00:00

Michael Mzwinila, Alois Dlodlo and Butheliwe Sibanda were all found guilty of breaking into a house belonging to Motshepha Nombolo of Tlokweng in November, 2009. They robbed her of goods including cash and cellphones at knife point.When sentencing the trio, Magistrate Dlamini Ngandu said she saw no reason to give the trio a lesser sentence due to the nature of their crime. She noted that armed robbery is a serious offence that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. She stressed that a life could have been lost during the robbery as they attacked a defenseless woman who positively identified them (convicts) later, leaving her scared for life and traumatised.

Magistrate Ngandu told the Court that it was disappointing that organised crime, terrorising of innocent citizens and taking people's hard earned belongings still happens in Botswana. She said it is a growing trend in Botswana for criminals to rob innocent people in broad daylight. She said the court had determined the appropriate sentence based solely on the victim's suffering during and after the robbery and the manner in which the crime was committed. She said she did not take into consideration what the trio had proposed during their mitigation claiming they were rehabilitated and that they too were attacked by a mob in a robbery.Both Mzwinila and Sibanda had earlier indicated that they wanted mercy from the court because they suffered injuries when they were robbed by a mob.

'I see no reason to consider your plea, though we do not encourage such behaviour from members of the public, one can say they were simply responding to an outcry from someone who had just been robbed and thankfully, mother luck was not on your side, they (mob) helped in apprehending you guys for the police', she stated.She also reminded the trio that having countless previous convictions similar to the one at hand is not reflective of people who are learning  from their mistakes; instead she said they seem to be hardcore criminals who come out of prison only to commit more crimes. She stressed that the court will not go easy on those who put other's lives in danger for their own benefit. She said as individuals, they have the choice to become better citizens and earn an honest living.