THE UPINGTON Division of the High Court handed down a life sentence to 38-year-old Chidi Emmanuel Okafor for the brutal murder of a police officer in Keimoes. The ruling, delivered on March 18, follows an extensive investigation that led to the fugitive's arrest and prosecution.

According to Hawks Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe, the horrific crime took place in January 2020 when Okafor ambushed an off-duty Public Order Policing (POP) officer and his friend while they were sleeping. The officer was fatally stabbed, while his companion managed to escape with serious injuries.

Okafor fled the scene, triggering a manhunt that eventually led authorities to Klerksdorp, where he was apprehended by the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit.

After being brought back to the Northern Cape, Okafor faced a protracted trial that culminated in his conviction in August 2024. The court imposed a life sentence for murder, with an additional 10 years for attempted murder. Both sentences will run concurrently.

The conviction has been met with praise from law enforcement officials, who emphasised the significance of the sentencing. Authorities have reiterated that attacks on police officers undermine crime-fighting efforts and represent a direct challenge to the rule of law.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case heard on the same day in the ZF Mgcawu Policing District, the Upington Regional Court convicted 28-year-old Jan-Ray April on two counts of fraud.

April was found guilty of purchasing two vehicles worth more than R700,000 using forged documents, including a falsified employment confirmation and contract. An investigation by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team led to the repossession of the vehicles. A reputable vehicle finance company faced a potential loss of R749,999.

April was sentenced to six years in prison, though the sentence was wholly suspended for five years, provided he does not re-offend within this period. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay R258,000 in compensation to the finance house and has been declared unfit to possess a firearm under the Firearms Control Act.

Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling fraud and other financial crimes that threaten the economic stability of communities.