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News24 reports that a corrupt Eastern Cape traffic official and driver’s licence examiner burst into tears of relief after he was sentenced to only five years’ correctional supervision for his fraud-related crimes in the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha on Thursday.
Rory Petrus, 39, faced a minimum prescribed sentence of 15 years’ direct imprisonment for his crimes, but Judge Mzamo Nobatana found several substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from this sentence. Petrus, who initially faced over 50 charges, was found guilty of incitement to commit an offence, two counts of corruption, fraud, forgery, uttering and the unlawful issuance of a driver’s licence. He was also sentenced to one year in prison for incitement, one year for corruption and five years for fraud and forgery. Additionally, he was sentenced to five years for uttering, one year for the unlawful issuance of a driver’s licence and another five years for the second corruption charge. However, Nobatana ordered that his sentences run concurrently, meaning that Petrus will serve an effective five-year house arrest under correctional supervision.
According to the sentencing order, he must complete several rehabilitation programmes, including anger and financial management courses, communication and self-management classes, and anti-drug and alcohol abuse classes. He must also complete 600 hours of community service for at least 20 hours a month. In his sentencing judgment, Nobatana strongly condemned Petrus’ actions, saying he brought the Sunday’s River Valley Local Municipality into disrepute and endangered motorists’ lives. However, he could not ignore the fact that during the trial, it was submitted as evidence that Petrus had a drug problem at the time of the offences and had been to rehab twice.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Candice Bezuidenhout at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
- Read too, Drug rehab and house arrest, not jail, for corrupt Eastern Cape traffic official, at Daily Maverick
Get other news reports at the SA LabourNews home page