Man found in possession of Sandra Munsamy's cellphone sentenced
The man found in possession of Westville businesswoman, Sandra Munsamy's cellphone just months after she was abducted, has been found guilty of theft and sentenced to a R5 000 fine or two years imprisonment.
Jerry Gike, 36, pleaded guilty to the charges in the Durban Magistrates Court on Monday.
Gika was arrested by Warrant Officer Rajan Govender in July after detectives traced Munsamy's cellphone to him.
In his plea statement, Gike told the court that he was approached by a street beggar that claimed he found the phone in a bin.
Gike, who is a salesman and owns a secondhand shop in Durban, said that the man tried to sell him the phone for R1 000.
He says he offered the man R900, which he accepted.
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He says he was then arrested and was told that the phone belonged to a victim of kidnapping and theft.
Gika said when he bought the phone, he was aware that it may have been the subject of theft or that it was lost, but did not report the matter and intended to resell it for profit.
He says he wilfully committed the offence of theft even though it had nothing to do with the abduction.
His plea was accepted by the court.
During sentencing proceedings, Gike's attorney told the court that it should be taken into consideration that his client had been cooperative with police from the beginning and has made it known that he intended to plead guilty.
State prosecutor, Kuveshnie Pillay told the court that the cellphone is linked to a very serious case and that Gike and the punishment should be metered out as a fine.
Pillay said Gike was in possession of the phone two hours after Munsamy's abduction.
In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Sophie Reddy said that it is people like Gike who create the market for theft of property.
