Illegal miner, Hardlife Isaiah Hulani, was this week sentenced by the Tlhabane Regional Court to five years imprisonment for unlawful possession of unwrought precious metals.
According to the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in North West, Major General Patrick Mbotho, Hulani was arrested in May 2022 by police officers from Tlhabane SAPS at Lefagaratlha village after information of a man who was mining platinum illegally was received.
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Three bags with 86 kilograms of platinum were recovered. The Hawks’ Rustenburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation were alerted about the arrest for further handling.
The accused remained in custody during a series of court appearances until he pleaded guilty to the charges including the contravention of Immigration Act on 29 September 2022 then he received his sentence.
