A former top cop will serve three years behind bars after he was convicted by the Tweeling Magistrate's Court for his involvement in stock theft.

Former acting station commander of Tweeling police station, Mokete Jacob Mokoena, 58, will serve three years, while his co-accused, Lefa Elias Mahlaba, 44, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson for the Free State division, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said the court heard of Mokoena’s criminal intent when he roped in the help of a civilian on the night of March 21 to 22, 2021.

“Mokoena, who was also the commander of the Visible Policing Unit at the station, was on duty and patrolling in a marked police vehicle while in full SAPS uniform. Before leaving, he requested Mahlaba, an ordinary citizen, to accompany him.

“Under the cover of darkness, Mahlaba was dropped off at the farm Speekhoutboom, owned by the complainant. Mahlaba then rounded up five sheep, tying them down with rope. He used Mokoena’s official SAPS torch, which had the police insignia and a serial number engraved on it, to carry out the crime,” said Senokoatsane.

The former cop later returned to the scene but was spotted by a private security company.

“The two accused fled in the police vehicle but were intercepted by the security officers. Upon returning to the scene, the security team discovered Mokoena’s police torch near the carcass of a slaughtered sheep. Another sheep had been killed, with its remains placed in a plastic bag, while three others were found alive but immobilised with rope.

“Initially, Mokoena denied ownership of the torch found at the crime scene but later admitted that it belonged to him. DNA analysis confirmed that the bloodstains on Mahlaba’s clothing matched the slaughtered sheep. The State also presented AVL (automatic vehicle location) satellite tracking data from the police vehicle, which confirmed that it had stopped four times at or near the crime scene that night.”

According to Senokoatsane, the trial was prolonged after Mokoena changed lawyers three times, which resulted in significant delays in seeing the matter to conviction and sentencing.

“Despite these obstacles, the prosecution, led by Advocate Jacques Harrington, successfully proved the case against both accused. (We) welcome the convictions and sentences, reaffirming its commitment to holding law enforcement officers accountable when they betray public trust and engage in criminal conduct,” said Senokoatsane.

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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