two businessmen
7 December 2006
Mr Graham Barnett (50), the Managing Director (MD) of South African Metals,
one of the largest exporters of non-ferrous scrap from South Africa, and Mr
Allan de Klerk (40), Site Manager of South African Metals' Elandsfontein site,
were both convicted in the Kempton Park Regional Court on 5 December. They were
found guilty of contravening section 37 of the Criminal Procedures Act
(receiving of stolen property).
The conviction followed a highly specialised investigation by detectives
from the South African Police Service (SAPS), Head Office, Pretoria which led
to the confiscation of two containers with stolen material in Durban harbour in
April 2003.
Two thousand nine hundred kilograms of copper cathodes, which cost
approximately � R145 000, that was seized in the Durban harbour was part of a
load that was hijacked on 1 March 2003 in Lyttleton in Gauteng. The truck and
its load was en route from Kitwe in Zambia to Boksburg in Gauteng. The
containers seized in the Durban harbour were at that stage rented by South
African Metals. Copper cathodes cannot be smelted in South Africa and has to be
exported to the East.
Mr Barnett was sentenced to a fine of R100 000 of which R50 000 is suspended
for five years. Mr De Klerk was sentenced to a R10 000 00 fine or two years
imprisonment.
Enquiries:
Phuti Setati
Section Head: Media Relations
Communication and Liaison Services
Tel: (012) 393 5490/1
Fax: (012) 393 5525/27
Cell: 082 778 4312
E-mail: mediarelations@saps.org
Issued by: South African Police Service
7 December 2006
