Former court interpreter, Baldwin Nevondwe was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for corruption.
A court interpreter was this week sentenced to eight years imprisonment for corruption by the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Baldwin Nevondwe (42) was found guilty and sentenced on two separate cases of corruption.
The court heard that on 27 October 2016, Nevondwe, who was employed as an interpreter at Tshitale Magistrates’ Court demanded R500 from the complainant who was arrested for intimidation in order to make the case disappear although it was withdrawn by the court.
The complainant managed to give him R300 but Nevondwe kept on demanding the outstanding R200 until the matter was reported to the Polokwane based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation.
He was arrested immediately after receiving the outstanding R200. Nevondwe was out on bail until he was convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment two years of which are suspended for five years.
In another separate but similar case, Nevondwe in his official capacity as the court interpreter demanded gratification from the complainant who was arrested for possession of dagga.
The complainant was fined R400 by the court but Nevondwe demanded R1200 which he paid. The complainant was surprised when Nevondwe gave him a receipt indicating that he paid R400 instead of R1200 and he decided to report the matter to the police.
Nevondwe was arrested again and released on bail until he was convicted and sentenced. Both sentences were ordered to run concurrently on condition that the convict is not found guilty for corruption during the suspension period.