Ndudi Anyim
A Kimberley Magistrates’ court has sentenced two cousins, Solomon Olivier, and Thabo Olivier, for attempted kidnap and hijacking of Police vehicle.
The accused were sentenced to 20years and 15years imprisonment, respectively.
Preliminary investigations revealed that on August 9, 2019 an off-duty Police officer was hijacked by five men in Kimberley. The hijackers took the victim to a veld close to the Barkly West Road via the R31, where a scuffle took place.
The male Police officer wounded one of the accused by shooting him in the leg. The accused tied the victim down and fled with the vehicle.
The Provincial Head for Organized Crime Detectives, Brigadier Dick De Waal, said that Police followed up on information and arrested the wounded accused, Solomon Olivier, 37, at a hospital in Hartswater.
“ The hijacked vehicle was found abandoned on the N18 between Hartswater and Jan Kempdorp, while the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) service pistol was recovered close to the scene on the R31.
“ Police followed up on information and arrested Thabo Olivier, 25, at his house in Britstown a month after the incident. The two cousins were sentenced in the Kimberley Magistrates’ court, where Solomon received 20years and Thabo 15years imprisonment for the hijacking.
“ Both men received a further 5 years for kidnapping and the sentences will run concurrently, ” he said.
Waal commended D/Const. Tshiamo Mokwena for a sterling job done and thanked the community for their assistance in this regard.