South Africa’s Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday sentenced two Zimbabweans, Samuel Nkomo (38) and Jesphat Aaron Mawire (46), to five years imprisonment for possession of illicit goods valued at R8 million.
The two were arrested around Polokwane on September 11 last year by police officers from the Capricorn Flying Squad who were conducting a stop-and-search operation on the R521 (Dendron Road).
Nkomo and Mawire were travelling in a white Rigid Man Truck.
The spokesperson of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), in Limpopo province Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed the sentence.
“The Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced two Zimbabwean nationals, Samuel Nkomo (38) and Jesphat Aaron Mawire (46), to five years of direct imprisonment for possession of illicit goods valued at R8 million,” she said.
“On September 11 2024, police officers from the Capricorn Flying Squad were conducting a stop-and-search operation on the R521 (Dendron Road) when they intercepted a white Rigid Man Truck.
“Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered 908 boxes of Adalya Premium Hookah Tobacco, wrapped in plastic, with a total estimated value of R8 million.”
The official said the packaging markings indicated that the consignment originated from Turkey.
She said the duo failed to provide valid importation documents during interrogations by the police leading to their arrest.
Ms Malabi-Dzhangi said further verifications revealed that the SAD 500 form and invoice they presented were fraudulent as they did not exist in the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) system.
“During the trial, both accused pleaded guilty and were convicted as charged,” she said.
“In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Phumudzo Mudau (Public Prosecutor) argued that the accused had committed a serious and prevalent offense in the court’s jurisdiction, they showed no remorse, the high value of the illicit goods necessitated a strong deterrent message to potential offenders, there is public demand for harsher sentences in such cases and the court granted the state’s request for a custodial sentence.
“It imposed the following penalties: five years of direct imprisonment for each accused, forfeiture of the Rigid Man Truck and 908 boxes of illicit tobacco to the state and declaration of the accused as unfit to possess a firearm.”
She said the NPA’s director of public prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga, had welcomed the sentencing which she noted sends a strong warning to would-be offenders involved in illicit trade.
“She also commended the efforts of Advocates Phumudzo Mudau and Tebogo Mothapo, along with the investigating officer, Sergeant Mmametse Sophina Lehodi, from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Serious Commercial Crime Investigations),” said Ms Malabi-Dzhangi.
