The Regional Court in Willowmore has sentenced 34-year-old Romano Jakobus to 15 years in prison for stock theft, while also declaring him a habitual criminal during sentencing this week.
Jakobus entered into a plea agreement on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, after overwhelming forensic evidence conclusively linked him to the crime. His arrest occurred in January 2025 when he was found carrying a lamb carcass concealed inside a backpack on a farm located a few kilometers outside Willowmore.
Following his arrest, bail was denied, and Jakobus remained in custody until his sentencing. On Tuesday, 22 July 2025, the court handed down a 15-year direct prison term and formally declared him a habitual criminal under Section 286 (1) and (2) of Act 51/1997.
