[imagesource: Twitter / @NicoleGraham031]

I’ve heard some very average nicknames in my day that have somehow stuck to a person well past their school or varsity days.

Then there’s the unfortunate Mbuso Moloi, who has come to be known as the ‘Mercedes Woolies Looter’.

I say ‘unfortunate’ because scenes of looting played out across the country back in July, seemingly without repercussion, but Moloi was pinged and has since appeared in court.

But hey, do the alleged crime and prepare to face the consequences.

He’s being charged with four counts of theft, public violence, trespassing, and contravention of the National Road Traffic Regulations of 2000 by operating a motor vehicle with a number plate displaying a license number not applicable to the motor vehicle.

A reminder of the footage that really did him in:

Looted a @WOOLWORTHS_SA, made up an elaborate lie about how he found goods outside (also a crime) and didn’t realise there was a longer video. Whoops. https://t.co/yGwvjD3uxs pic.twitter.com/Qvafdli2Iz

— Nicole Graham (@NicoleGraham031) July 14, 2021

That wasn’t his only lie, either.

It appeared as though Moloi was going to plead guilty to the charges, but he has since had a change of heart.

In light of this, reports News24, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has been granted an order to seize a Mercedes Benz C300 Coupe belonging to Moloi:

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Kara said his car was allegedly used in the commission of the offence.

“The car which was preserved on the basis that it is an instrumentality of the offences has an estimated market value of about R507 000. The car will remain with the state until the court grants a forfeiture order,” Kara.

The car was used to commit the alleged crimes and thus has been seized.

When IOL approached Moloi for comment over the weekend, Moloi denied that his car had been “seized”.

His attorney, Mfanafuthi Biyela, claimed to have no knowledge of such action:

However, Friday’s court proceedings was a civil matter and was heard ex parte, meaning only one party was present (the applicant, the AFU) and presented written evidence to support the application.

The presiding judge made the ruling with the understanding that the written evidence before him was presented in good faith.

Image: NPA

Moloi now has 90 days to challenge the order, failing which the car, said to be worth R507 000, will be forfeited to the State.

If those 90 days elapse without a challenge, the State takes ownership of the car.

It will then be sold, with the proceeds going to assisting South Africa’s various crime-fighting agencies.

I hope for Moloi’s sake that his Woolies basket was stocked with the really good stuff that one usually walks past and thinks ‘nice, but there’s no way I’m paying that.’

[sources:news24&iol]