Hijackers get 1 071 years
2007-12-12 21:17
Bloemfontein - The Free State Circuit Court on Wednesday sentenced 15 men to a total of 1 071 years' imprisonment in connection with truck hijackings in the Free State, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Judge SPB Hancke earlier found the men guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping, organised crime and robbery.
They were part of a hijacking syndicate who performed various truck and vehicle hijackings on the N1 and N3 routes between 2004 and 2005.
Ten of the men were from Mozambique, one from Zimbabwe, one Zambian and the rest from South Africa.
In handing down judgment, Hancke expressed concern that most of the men were foreigners who had come to South Africa to commit economic sabotage.
He said the men would, from time to time, go to their original countries which had frustrated the police investigating team.
The stolen trucks, more than 20 of them, were mostly taken to Mozambique.
- SAPA