MPUMALANGA – The Nelspruit Commercial Crime Court have on Thursday last week, 4 August 2022 found guilty and sentenced a mother and son, Ralph Mohlala (23) and Silvia Mohlala (55) for manipulation of information during Reckless and Negligent driving which happened on the 5 August 2018 at Ohrigstad road between Hlabekisa and Matibidi.
It is alleged that on the early hours of the day in question, an accident occurred on R533 Ohrigstad road whereby a Polo VW overturned with five passengers inside, three females and two males and only four were injured in the accident. A case docket of reckless and negligent driving was opened and investigated by Dientjie Detectives.
It is further alleged that during investigation, false statements were obtained and including warning statement from another person who was not the driver of the vehicle during the accident. The matter was reported to the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Corruption Investigation for further probe.
Investigation by the Hawks revealed that on that day, the driver of the vehicle was Ralph Mohlala, who was driving without driver’s license and not the one who submitted warning statement as per the records. It was further revealed that the investigating officer who was also a Detective commander colluded with Silvia Mohlala, the mother of Ralph to use a civilian who was not present during the accident to give false statement purporting to be the driver during the accident.
After the completion of the investigation, the matter was brought before court for decision. Warrant of arrest was authorised by court on 14 December 2021 and four suspects were arrested and appeared before court on the same day. They were all released on R10 000 bail each. The investigator persuaded the case until last week Thursday when two accused out of the four were found guilty and sentenced as follows:
Accused 2. Silvia Mohlala: sentenced on count 1: Conspiracy to commit a crime of fraud. She was sentenced to 24 months correctional supervision in terms of section 276(1) (h) of the CPA 56 of 1977.
Accused 1. Ralph Mohlala was sentenced on Count 2: Reckless and negligent driving: R3000.00 or six month imprisonment wholly suspended for 3 years
Count 3: Driving motor vehicle without a driver’s license, sentenced to 12 months wholly suspended for a period of 3 years and
Count 4. Defeating or obstructing the administration of justice: sentenced to 12 months wholly suspended for 3 years.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General Mokoena welcomed the sentence believing that this will serve as an example to the police officers who think that they are above the law, the eye of the Hawks is watching. She further applauded the investigating officer and Judiciary for ensuring that proper sentence was imposed to the accused.
Source: South African Police Service