The accused Divan Wiid (36) appeared before the Tembisa Regional Court on Wednesday, 7 June 2023 where he was sentenced for the acquisition, possession and disposal of unwrought precious metal. His conviction originates from an incident which took place during the period of July 2020 to September 2020. The suspect at the time was monitored by the Hawks and Crime Intelligence team as he was illegally buying unwrought precious metals on several occasions.

On 14 June 2021, a sting operation was then conducted in Free State (Hennenman) and Gauteng (Kempton Park) by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Welkom together with Serious Organised Crime Investigation teams in Gauteng, Pretoria and West Rand, Free State Crime Intelligence, Local Criminal Record Centre in Welkom, Bidvest Protea Coin Security, and Special Task Force in Gauteng, Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria, SAPS Air Wing in Pretoria, where the suspect was arrested after he was found in possession of unwrought precious metal.

The court sentenced Wiid on count 1 to 4 of acquisition, possession and disposal of unwrought precious metal. In each count, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years and a fine of R200 000 of which R100 000 is suspended for five years and the other R100 000 must be paid immediately. Wiid is expected to pay a total fine of R400 000 within a period of three months. On a count of possession of XRF gun under the Hazardous Substances Act, he was fined R500 or six months imprisonment wholly suspended for four years.

Source: South African Police Service