LESOTHO NATIONAL CONVICTED FOR POSSESSION OF ILLICIT CIGARETTES

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By: Neo Ntsele

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the Free State Major General Mokgadi Bokaba has welcomed the sentencing of a Lesotho citizen, Lehopotsejwang Elias Mofundisi by the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Thursday 20, for charges of possession of illicit cigarettes.

The sentencing follows after Mofundisi was arrested by police at the Maseru Port of Entry as he was about to cross over to Lesotho on 11 April 2024.

He was driving a truck with a full load of popcorn's, fruits and vegetables.

The police at the customs asked him to offload the truck for purposes of inspection, upon inspecting they found boxes of cigarettes packed in between the fruits and vegetables palettes.

He did not declare the boxes of cigarettes at customs, which he failed to pay customs duty of an amount of about R440 189.00.

A case docket was registered then referred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Bethlehem for further investigation, which led to the conviction of the accused.

The court found Mofundisi guilty of contravention of Section 80(1)a of Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 and contravention of Section 80(1)b of Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 and was sentenced to a fine of R100 000, of which R80 000 is suspended for five years.

He was ordered to pay R20 000, of which R10 000 must be paid on 28 March 2025 and the remaining R10 000 must be paid in installments of R2000 over a period of five months.