KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Regional Court has sentenced three men to three years of correctional supervision following a violent assault on a senior police officer in early 2023.
Mikel Goliath (26), Amos Levi (24) and Jessie Jaun Jacobs (31) pleaded guilty to charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
The sentencing, handed down yesterday18 August, falls under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, No. 51 of 1977.
In addition to their sentences, the trio was declared unfit to possess firearms.
The incident dates back to January 2023 at the Knysna taxi rank, where the station commander of Kwanokuthula SAPS was confronted by a group of Rastafarian individuals.
The group accused the officer of being involved in a police operation that had led to the seizure of dagga (cannabis). Tensions escalated when members of the group, including the three convicted men, physically attacked the officer.
According to court proceedings, the officer attempted to flee but fell to the ground, at which point the assailants continued to assault him. He sustained a broken wrist and required medical treatment at a nearby hospital.
Following an investigation, four suspects were arrested in connection with the assault. However, charges against one of the accused were later withdrawn.
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