By REGINALD KANYANE
A 39-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for armed robbery and kidnapping by Vryburg Regional Court. On August 2021, William Mustafa was arrested after he followed a business owner (38), who just closed his business in Vryburg Central Business District (CBD) until he reached his home in Kismet Park, Vryburg.
The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “The business owner, who was accompanied by his brother, realised that they are being followed. They were about to enter their yard when they were approached by three unknown men, who pointed them with a firearm.
“They instructed them to get out of their vehicle. The accused tied them up, then forced the victims into their vehicle and drove off with them to the direction of Stella along the N18 road. A vehicle was stopped after approximately 5 kilometres and the victims were instructed to get out before being robbed of their cell phones.”
Van Rooyen further said the victim’s brother was left with one of the suspects to guard him. She added that the business owner was taken back to his residence in Kismet Park, where he was robbed of R28 000.
“The victim managed to report the incident to the police the same evening. During the investigation, the accused was positively linked to the incident through fingerprints and ultimately arrested at a business robbery scene.
“The business owner’s cell phone was also found in his possession. He was arrested for business robbery and possession of suspected stolen goods including kidnapping. Mustafa, who has been in detention since his arrest was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment,” she said.
Mustafa was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
Meanwhile, the acting District Commissioner of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng lauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Eric Jacobs of Vryburg Detectives and prosecution for their collaborative efforts that led to the sentence, which he said will serve as a deterrent.
The Guardian 