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The deputy director of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Jacob Serepo, said that drug-related crimes were frequent at OR Tambo International Airport.
- The Kempton Park Magistrates Court sentenced two police officers to 30 years in prison.
- The officers were previously stationed at OR Tambo International Airport.
- They were convicted on charges of robbery, defeating the administration of justice, contravention of the Drug Trafficking Law in August 2020.
Two police officers have been sentenced to 30 years behind bars on drug-related charges.
Raesibe Melda Ndukula and Faith Makhosazane Mtambo were sentenced in Kempton Park Magistrates Court this week.
According to the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority, Phindi Mjonondwane, the agents were previously stationed at the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA).
“The officers were convicted on charges of contravention of the Drug Trafficking Act (possession of drugs), defeating the administration of justice and robbery in August 2020,” Mjonondwane said.
Both were charged, along with a South African Airways flight attendant, Lebogang Paulinah Tshabalala, who has entered into a plea deal with the state.
“Tshabalala was sentenced to five years, sentence totally suspended, on the condition that she become a witness for the State and testify against the two officers,” Mjonondwane said.
READ | 16 Police Officers Arrest OR Tambo for Drugs; 13 Tshwane Traffic Officers Arrested for Corruption
In March 2013, Tshabalala was a flight attendant on an OR Tambo flight to Sao Paolo.
When the flight returned to the country, Tshabalala was arrested upon arrival after customs officials from the South African Revenue Service found her in possession of drugs.
“Officials turned the drugs over to Ndukula, who in turn stole them, along with Mtambo, instead of holding them as exhibits,” Mjonondwane said.
She said that after her conviction and sentencing, the officers successfully requested permission to appeal.
“They will return to court to request bail pending their appeal to Superior Court at a date yet to be announced.”
READ ALSO | Police Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Confiscated Drugs
Meanwhile, the deputy director of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Jacob Serepo said that drug-related crimes were frequent at OR Tambo International Airport.
Serepo pleaded with the court to pass a ruling that “disapproves of criminal conduct, especially perpetrated by the defendants who were police officers at the time of the incident.”
He said that the defendants had abused their authority as police officers and, as such, acted dishonestly.
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