The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein has dismissed an application for leave to appeal the conviction and sentencing of the ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule's former driver, Ricardo Mettler.
âââ LUCKY NKUYANE 09:00 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 PHOTO: Lucky Nkuyane
The Free State High Court is Wednesday set to deliberate over an application brought forward by former (FS) Premier Ace Magashuleâs driver, Ricardo Mettler.
Mettler is applying for leave to appeal his 15-year conviction and jail sentence for the theft of the R8 million Pierneef painting. His legal representative, Advocate Hannes Peyper, has confirmed this.
Last month, Mettler filed papers to appeal his sentence and conviction after Judge Soma Naidoo found him guilty in 2020 on counts of theft, fraud, money laundering, and perjury and accordingly sentenced him in March 2021. Judge Naidoo handed Mettler an effective 15-year prison sentence for theft, 15 years for money laundering, 15 years for fraud, and 12 months for perjury. Counts two and four are running concurrently.
Ace Magashuleâs former bodyguard gets 15 years in jail for stealing Pierneef painting
By Staff Reporter
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Cape Town - ANC secretary-general Ace Magashuleâs former bodyguard has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for stealing an R 8 million painting.
Ricardo Mettler, who was Magashuleâs bodyguard during his term as the Free State premier, was found guilty on four charges relating to the Pierneef painting.
In the Bloemfontein High Court on Wednesday, Judge Soma Naidoo sentenced Mettler to an additional 15 years for money laundering for offering the painting to a Chinese businessman as a guarantee for a loan, said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
DA welcomes harsh judgment on resource plundering
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The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the harsh 15 year sentence handed down by the High Court in Bloemfontein today by Judge Soma Naidoo against the Pierneef painting plunderer, Ricardo Mettler.
The judgment is a stern warning to people in government, particularly those in positions of power, that they will in future be detected, convicted and punished for their crimes. The arrogance displayed by Mettler in court and his continuous silence regarding his political head at the time, former Free State Premier Ace Magashule’s possible involvement in this theft contributed to his harsh sentence. The
Magashule s former driver remains behind bars ofm.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ofm.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.