TRIO SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR CONTRACT KILLING OF PAKISTANI SHOP OWNER

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence imposed by the Gqeberha Regional Court, which saw three men each sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Pakistani businessman, Mamun Hosain, in a planned and targeted killing.

Kirsten Johannes (24), Justin Johannes (29), and Daviton Brown (23) were convicted of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Brown was additionally convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on 22 October 2024 at the Loerie Mini Market in Loerie, near Humansdorp.

Evidence presented before the court revealed that another Pakistani national had allegedly hired the trio to kill Hosain. On the day of the incident, the accused travelled together to the victim's shop and parked outside the premises. Justin Johannes handed a firearm to Kirsten Johannes and Daviton Brown with instructions to shoot the victim.

Kirsten Johannes and Brown entered the shop, where Kirsten Johannes shot Hosain three times. After the victim had been fatally wounded, Brown removed a till from the shop before the pair fled to a getaway vehicle driven by Justin Johannes.

Members of the public who witnessed the incident provided crucial information to the police, leading to the successful tracing and arrest of the perpetrators.

Senior State Advocate Benedict Wilson prosecuted the matter on behalf of the state. During sentencing proceedings, he argued for an effective sentence that reflected the seriousness of the offences and served the interests of society. The investigating officer also testified in aggravation of sentence in support of the State's submissions.

The court sentenced all three accused to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years' imprisonment each for the unlawful possession of a firearm, and five years' imprisonment each for the unlawful possession of ammunition. In addition, Brown was sentenced to a further 15 years' imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The court further declared all three accused unfit to possess firearms in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the Eastern Cape, Adv Samkelo Mtwana welcomed the sentences and commended the investigating team for their dedication and commitment throughout the investigation.

"I must commend Warrant Officer Sokanyile, Warrant Officer Peta, and the other police officers who formed part of the investigation. Their hard work and dedication cannot go unnoticed. They were involved in this matter from beginning to end. When we work together as a team, we can bring criminals to book and make our communities safer places to live without fear," said Mtwana.

The NPA also extends its appreciation to the members of the public who came forward with information that contributed to securing the convictions and sentences.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali

NPA Regional Spokesperson – Eastern Cape Division