Foreigner jailed eight years for SA car theft

Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A 28-YEAR-OLD Tanzanian national was last Thursday jailed for five effective years for stealing a vehicle worth R200 000 in South Africa last year.

Ibrahim Ramadhani Rajabu, who resides at Gips Town in Johannesburg, South Africa, was arrested by detectives in Chipinge while heading to Malawi via Mozambique driving the stolen vehicle.

He appeared before senior Chipinge magistrate Mr Poterai Gwezhira facing carjacking charges.

Rajabu pleaded not guilty, but was jailed following overwhelming evidence against him.

Prosecuting, Mr Witness Nyamundaya said on September 4, 2017 at Auto Body Repairs, 227 Luiperd Street, Boltonia, Krugersdorp, South Africa, the complainant, Mark Oothuizen of Krugersdorp, South Africa, left his motor vehicle, a BMW X4, red in colour with registration number A8490862 and engine number A8490862 for body                                                               repairs.

“The accused person then visited premises, opened the safe and took the vehicle keys which had been left by the owner of the garage in his office,” he   said.

“Rajabu then proceeded to the parked motor vehicle, started it and drove away.”

Mr Nyamundaya said to conceal the offence, Rajabu removed the vehicle’s registration plates before fitting a fake ones – NPN 1106.

“The accused prepared fake vehicle documents – vehicle clearance certificate and the registration book,” he said. “He then drove to Zimbabwe through Beitbridge Border Post where he tendered the fake registration book and police clearance and was issued a temporary import permit to travel to Malawi via exit point Mt Selinda Broder Post in Chipinge.

“Detectives received information to the effect that there was a stolen vehicle on mobile tracking system which was heading towards Mt Selinda, Chipinge, and had been stolen in South Africa.

“Acting on the information, they arrested Rajabu at Mt Selinda Border Post and the vehicle was recovered. The detectives also recovered the fake registration documents and South African police clearance forms.”

Rajabu was sentenced eight years in jail with three suspended on condition of good be-                                                        haviour.