PORT ELIZABETH - 'UPSTAND DOGS' GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IMPRISONMENT

Part of the South African Police Service's back-to-basics campaign is focused on ensuring the thorough investigation of cases, resulting in prosecutions and convictions, and justice being served. The sentences imposed upon criminals must be influenced by quality detective work and sound cooperation between investigators and prosecutors.  We are proud to say that the Operation Lockdown team is achieving positive results by getting back to these basics.

On Monday, 25 July 2016, accused Kieran Ivano Louis alias Papers, a gang affiliate of the Upstand Dogs, was sentenced in the Port Elizabeth magistrates’ court.

On 12 September 2015 at about 10:45 the complainants, aged 16 and 28 years old, were standing in front of a house in Burness Street, Malabar Ext 6 when three known men approached them. The accused then pulled out a .38 revolver and started shooting at the complainants. No injuries were sustained and the suspects ran away.

On 23 October 2015 at about 20:00 members of the Visible Gang Intervention Team were patrolling Virgo Street in Gelvandale when they stopped and searched a group of men. Louis was arrested and detained on two counts of attempted murder. He remained in police custody until the finalisation of the case.

On 25 July 2016, he was convicted as follows: Attempted murder x 2 charges – sentenced to 8 years; Unlawful possession of a firearm – 5 years imprisonment and unlawful possession of ammunition – 1 year imprisonment. Louis will effectively serve 14 years in prison.

The Acting Cluster Commander for Mount Road Cluster, Brigadier Ernie Neveling, has commended the investigating officer and the prosecuting authority for a successful prosecution. He added that "credit deservedly belongs to the partnership fostered between the police and the judiciary as hard work and attention to detail played a crucial role in securing such a sentence".

 Lieutenant General Gary Kruser, Deputy National Commissier, Management Interventions, added his voice to expressing appreciation to the team.  Over this past week, we have notched up a number of arrests in connection with serious offences, including murder and attempted murder.  Nothing will deter us from making PE's Northern areas safer and free from gang-related crime".

VIA - saps.gov.za