NORTH WEST – The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in North West, Major General Patrick Mbotho welcomed the sentence handed down to Phakiso Radipudi (21) who was slapped with an effective 12 years and 6 months direct imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of ammunition and for being in the country illegally.

Radipudi, a Lesotho national, was arrested on 12 February 2021 by the Illicit Mining Task team during a routine patrol at Dawkinsville dumping site in Klerksdorp. The accused who was in a nearby shack started running when he spotted the police. He was apprehended and his shack was searched wherein three 9mm pistols and fifty four rounds of ammunition were found.

Bail for the accused was successfully opposed owing to his illegal status in the country. He made a series of court appearances until he was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for possession of unlicensed firearms, 5 years imprisonment for possession of ammunition and 6 months imprisonment for being an illegal immigrant. Count 1 and 2 will run concurrently. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Source: South African Police Service