CIT security guards get nine y

Pixabay

CIT security guards get nine years for stealing R2.9-million

Nine years for stealing R2.9-million and only spending R200 000… on cars.

CIT security guards get nine y

Pixabay

Two former cash-in-transit (CIT) security guards were convicted of theft by the Makhado Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo, on Monday.

Tinyiko Thomas Maluleke and Rofhiwa Emmanuel Luvhimbi were fired from their positions at Fidelity Security after it was discovered that they had stolen R2.9-million from the company, in just one month.

How two CIT security guards stole R2.9-million

According to police spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke, Luvhimbi, aged 31, and his 41-year-old colleague failed to deposit money that was collected from various outlets between December 2018 and January 2019.

Related: R1m reward offered to catch the thugs behind this CIT heist

“The theft was reported by the pair’s manager after Maluleke and Luvhimbi failed to account for the missing money.

“An operation comprising the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Crime intelligence, the Makhado Task Team and the Thohoyandou Tactical Response Team was tasked to investigate the matter,” Captain Maluleke explained.

Investigators were able to recover R2.7-million from three locations that were searched in the suspects’ respective properties.

“Some of it [was] stashed in ice-cream containers and refuse bags while underground. One of the suspects had already bought a double cab vehicle and building material which were later confiscated by the investigating team,” he added.

Related: CIT heist suspects caught trying to evade capture in police van

How much jail time did they receive?

Luvhimbi and Maluleke pleaded not guilty to the charges of theft. However, after a series of court appearances, the Makhado Magistrate’s Court convicted the suspects to nine years imprisonment without parole.

Members of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI), Crime intelligence, the Makhado Task Team and the Thohoyandou Tactical Response Team (TTRT) were applauded for their relentless efforts.

Captain Maluleke stated that if it was not for the evidence collected by the investigative unit, the case would not have made it on the roll.