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Crown
and defence lawyers in the Reverend Thabo Anthony Monyau theft and fraud
case have agreed on a five year jail sentence wholly suspended for a five
year period.
This emerged in an address by counsel for the defence Advocate Kananelo
Mosito who told the High Court that they had reached an agreement with crown
counsel, Advocate Henk Louw, as a result of the cooperation of the accused.
Reverend Monyau is accused with five other men on five counts of theft and
fraud.
Advocate Mosito asked the court
to impose the suggested sentence on condition that Rev. Monyau pays an
amount of M245 000.00 to the Roman Catholic Church, to which the money,
withdrawn from a Nedbank account, belonged. The court should also impose a
sentence that would enable the accused, 42, to reform.
Crown Counsel Advocate Henk Louw, concurring with the submission, said the
court should consider the role played by the accused, who had not been the
actual perpetrator but had only played a facilitation role.
The crown also considers that the accused is currently in prison serving 15
years for sedition. It also appreciated the fact that the accused intends to
give testimony against his co-accused.
Reverend Monyau; George Lehloka; Neo Libe; Teboho Serobanyane; Daniel Masiea
and Mokoma Mothakathi are accused of allegedly defrauding CGM textiles
factory of M660 000.00 on July 13, 2001.
Rev. Monyau was separated from the other five accused after he pleaded
guilty to two counts; one on theft and one on fraud, while the remaining
counts were withdrawn by the crown after he agreed to cooperate with
investigating officers against the other five accused.
Other five accused are still awaiting trial and they are out on bail.
The case is before Justice Baptista Molai, with the crown represented by
Advocate Henk Louw while the defence team is made up of Advocates Kananelo
Mosito, Ishmael Semenya and Ts'upane Maieane.
11 February 2005 |