malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
A Zimbabwean national was fined R5 million after he was found guilty of attempting to smuggle 440 master boxes of cigarettes worth R9,6 million into South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post.
Oswald Raisi (27), who appeared before Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court last week charged with possession of illicit cigarettes, could spend five years in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
He also got an additional eight-year jail term for attempting to bribe South African police with R30 000 after the cigarettes were found stashed under cotton oil cake.
Raisi’s co-accused Marshal Masiya (32) was sentenced to 18 months for violating immigration laws.
The pair was nabbed at Beitbridge Border Post on May 20.
Bongani Ndlovu