The Harrismith Regional Court sentenced a Zimbabwean national to 20 years in prison for theft and smuggling a truck belonging to Transnet.
Tafadzwa Nhire (41), was found guilty by the court yesterday, 25 May.
Free State Hawks spokesperson captain Christopher Singo said the hefty sentence comes after, the accused was arrested on 11 May.
“Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Bethlehem, received a complaint from the master control centre of Transnet pipeline in Pinetown about the pressure drop from their pipeline,” Singo said.
“The police attended to the complaint and on their arrival, they found that the structure had been tampered with and diesel was stolen from the pipeline.
“On the same day, information was received about a truck that was stuck on Highway Junction, Harrismith. The team followed up on the information and upon arrival at the Highway, they found the suspect pulling two tankers with a truck,” added Singo.
Singo said the samples were taken from the tankers for analysis and it was discovered that the diesel was from Transnet pipeline.
“During his arrest, the police seized a truck and two tankers including 58 681 litres of diesel with an estimated value of more than R800 000,” he added.
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