Killer crash: Cop offered fine
2005-08-12 19:00
Johannesburg - A policeman involved in an accident in which four people died was convicted and sentenced on Friday on four counts of culpable homicide, the Independent Complaints Directorate said.
The officer, stationed at Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, was convicted in Polokwane magistrate's court after the accident in December last year.
Inspector Shadrack Kgapola, 36, who was driving a police vehicle, failed to stop at an intersection and hit a vehicle from the back.
"The vehicle burst into flames and the four occupants burned to ashes on the scene," said ICD national spokesperson Steve Mabona.
Mabona said the ICD immediately took charge of the investigation and on its finalisation, forwarded the case docket to the director of public prosecutions with a recommendation that the suspect be prosecuted for culpable homicide.
"The DPP accepted our recommendation," Mabona said.
On Friday, the court convicted and sentenced Kgapola to R20 000 or two years' imprisonment, with R10 000 or one year's imprisonment suspended for five years.
- SAPA