The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla John Sitole has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of the infamous serial vehicle hijacker and thief, Owen Serero aged 37. Serero’s modus operandi included tracing new BMW’s and hijacking them either when they were being dropped off or picked up at BMW dealerships.
His reign of terror lasted between 2011 and 2014. He was arrested during that period but managed to escape from lawful custody while appearing in Johannesburg Magistrate’s court. He was however arrested on the 9th of January 2014, for allegedly being part of the conspiracy, together with the convicted Radovan Krejcir, to murder Paul O’Sullivan.
This case will be back in court on 17 October 2018. After his arrest, the cases that he had absconded on were put back on the court roll.
The Johannesburg Regional Court sentenced Serero on four counts as follows:
1. Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years imprisonment
2. Kidnapping: 5 years imprisonment
3. Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years imprisonment
4. Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 15 years imprisonment
The court ordered that some of his sentences run concurrently and he will therefore serve an effective 25 years imprisonment.
The National Commissioner has commended the investigating officers for working tirelessly to ensure that Serero, who committed crimes that instil fear in our communities, will spend a lengthy time behind bars. “I am confident that this convict will never see the outside of prison. As soon as his case of conspiracy to commit murder is finalised he will also be sentenced, which should increase the 25 years he will be serving now,” said General Sitole.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
