Copper theft convict sentenced to ten years imprisonment

PRETORIA – Nelson Carlos Balane (35) was sentenced to ten years direct imprisonment and had his vehicle forfeited to the state when he appeared in the Oudstshoorn Regional Court on Thursday.

Balane, from Mozambique, was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.   Meanwhile, the police were doing random stop searches on Wednesday, 17 April 2013, and in their attempt to stop him he sped off.         

A chase ensued and he later abandoned his Toyota Hilux bakkie and fled on foot.  The vehicle containing stolen Telkom copper cables worth R100 000 was seized for further investigation. 

A warrant of arrest was issued against Balane and the Western Cape Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime investigation team traced and arrested him on 15 May 2014 in Benoni. His bail application was successfully opposed and he was remanded in custody until his conviction and sentencing on Thursday.

Source: South African Police Service

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