Contraband cigarette dealer must pay up

2012-08-01 11:48

(File, AFP)

Bloemfontein - The NPA was granted an order on Tuesday attaching R54 400 from a man who dealt in contraband cigarettes.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit was granted a forfeiture order by the Free State High Court to attach R54 400 from Juani De Vos, Free State National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said.

In November 2011 Ventersburg police arrested two Zimbabwean men for transporting contraband cigarettes valued at R2.5m.

An investigation found the two worked for De Vos, who lived in Johannesburg. De Vos was summoned to Ventersburg and on his arrival there allegedly tried to bribe two police officers.

He allegedly offered them R54 400 in exchange for the return of a truck, the cigarettes, and the release of the Zimbabweans. De Vos was arrested and charged with dealing in contraband cigarettes, and corruption.

He was recently sentenced to three years imprisonment in the cigarette case. His bribery case would be heard in Ventersburg on August 15.

The R54 400 would be deposited into the criminal assets recovery account to be used in the fight against crime.

- SAPA