Ricardo Cornelius Gerhardus Mettler (43) a former personal security officer attached to the office of the Free State Premier appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 10 March 2021 where he was convicted and sentenced for theft, fraud and contravention of the justices of peace and commissioners of oath.
Mettler’s conviction is in connection with an incident which took place during March 2018 where he stole a Pierneef Painting from the Premier’s office at OR Tambo building in Bloemfontein.
On Wednesday, 29 January 2020 Mettler was served with summonses to appear in court. He then made several follow up appearances until his recent conviction. The court has sentenced Mettler to 15 years imprisonment for theft and fraud. He was also sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for contravention of justices of peace and commissioners of oath (making false statement in an affidavit).
Mettler will serve 16 years direct imprisonment.
