It would appear Siphiwe Mbatha (43) sealed his own fate when this theft landed him in the Vosloorus District Court on July 25 and his previous convictions for shoplifting were brought before the magistrate – all 25 of them.
In light of the number of previous convictions, instead of sentencing Mbatha in the district court, magistrate Suren Harichand ruled the matter be transferred to the regional court for sentencing.
It was his view that the maximum sentence of three years which he could impose on Mbatha in the district court was not long enough for this offender.
Therefore, on October 26, Mbatha was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, four of which are suspended for five years, in the regional court and warned by Harichand that he could be declared a habitual criminal – a ruling which has serious repercussions.
FULL ARTICLE TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE ADVERTISER ISSUE DATED FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, HITTING THE STREETS ON TUESDAY
