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).
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Magashule s former driver sentenced to 15 years Updated
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Judge Naidoo handed down a 15-year prison sentence for theft, 15 years for money laundering, 15 years for fraud, and 12 years for perjury. Counts 2 and 4 are set to run concurrently.
GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP
The former driver of Ace Magashule, Ricardo Mettler, has been sentenced to an effective 15-year jail sentence by a High Court judge in Bloemfontein on Wednesday morning.
Judge Soma Naidoo says Mettler s failure to take the witness stand to place his version of events before the court did not draw confidence from the court.
She says Mettler, despite the court s findings, continues to disrespect the evidence presented in court, showed no remorse and failed to take responsibility.
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