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Three police officers were handed life sentences after they were convicted of murdering a 50-year-old Free State man. (Duncan Alfreds/News24)
Three police officers were handed life sentences after they were convicted of murdering a 50-year-old Free State man.
According to Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping, the officers were found guilty of murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
On Friday, the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate's Court sentenced Sergeant Mbekeni Canuel Dladla, 46, Sergeant Bongani Selby Zondo, 36, and Sergeant Richard Mohau Balene, 41, to life imprisonment for the murder of Thabo Moses Mopeli.
The officers were further sentenced to 12 months imprisonment each for three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for assaulting Thapelo Sekete and Thabang Mopeli, both aged 32.
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"On 21 May 2022, the deceased and the two victims of assault… were walking to a local tavern at around 12:00 when they were stopped by the three police officers. The police officers arrested Sekete and Thabang for drinking in public, and Thabo was arrested on allegations of business robbery," said Shuping.
"The police officers assaulted the three men, and Thabo was kicked and hit with a butt of a firearm. They were forced into a bakkie and driven to Tseseng police station, where the assault continued."
Thabo was seriously assaulted and died at the police station, Shuping said.
"A case of death in police custody was opened, and IPID took over the investigation. The case was referred to the prosecutors, and the three officers were charged with murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm."
The sentences will run concurrently. They were also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
