King of Bling’s alleged crime partner in dock

Johannesburg - Seven months ago, William “King of Bling” Mbatha was sentenced to 35 years for impersonating police officers and robbing Joburg businessmen at gunpoint.

On Monday, it was his alleged accomplice’s turn to face the music. Cutting a lone figure in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, Tshehlo Neo Mokone pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges of impersonating police officers, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, attempted murder and murder.

He tendered no plea explanation and spent the rest of the day chatting and smiling with family members who were seated behind him.

The 33-year-old man from Blue Valley Golf Estate in Midrand was arrested in October last year following a high-speed police chase.

This was after he had allegedly evaded the police for nearly two years. He had initially been arrested with Mbatha in October 2009, but he had allegedly failed to return to court in April 2010 after his release on R10 000 bail.

On Monday, a police constable who had been among officers waiting around the China Mall area following a tip-off about a group of armed robbers who were planning to carry out a robbery in the area testified in court.

He said businessman Ronald Walter Viviers was robbed of R30 000 in cash at gunpoint after leaving his business premises at China Mall with a partner on October 31 last year.

But the police had been on the lookout for the robbers after receiving a tip-off.

Constable Mkhokeli Bonongo gave evidence on the police chase and shootout which left two men – Jeffrey Makalabisi Mangena and Mabuti Sifiso Dubula – on the ground dead

when the dust settled. Dubula was believed to have been one of the robbers, and Mangena was an innocent passer-by.

Mokone was arrested, while the other robber fled the scene wearing a bulletproof police vest, and is still at large.

Asked to identify the man arrested at the scene, Bonongo pointed to Mokone. “That’s the man,” he said.

The trial continues.

omphitlhetse.mooki@inl.co.za

The Star