Reported by Wolfram Zwecker on ebw Cycle Support Group on Facebook Hi guys. Three accused (26, 28 and 38) charged with the rape of a 26 year old cyclist were denied bail in the Kempton Park regional court today. These are the guys who held up the brother and sister who were out riding their bikes near the Benoni offramp on the R21 highway to Pta. They tied them up and later raped the sister. A week later, with the help of eBlockwatch and Andre, they were arrested. No info was given about num 1, (he did not apply for bail) but 2 and 3 are serious jailbirds. Num 2 has been convicted 10 (ten) times since 1993, num 3 about 8 times. The case has been postponed to 18 July awaiting DNA results. All 3 have made confessions and pointed out the crime scene so the case looks good. It will be heard in the highcourt. Gang rape carries a life (25 years) sentence. "Normal" rape is 15. The 10 cases of theft/robberies in the kempton area, where cyclists were robbed of their bikes do not look so rosy. None of the suspects were ID at the ID parade, so they can only be charged with being in possession of stolen goods. (and a bike, even worth thousands, is not high on our magistrates list as worst evils). They are being charged in the Tembisa regional courts. Moral of the story, if you get robbed, try (easily said) and get as much info of the robber, as possible. Afterwards keep in touch with the investigating officer (easier said than done). If they could have ID' the robbers, a case of organized crime could have been build, going from Tembisa (Kempton) all the way back to Mozambique. That would have meant a sentence of 10/15 years, now we are looking at a slap on the wrist.
