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- The man who robbed a jewellery shop in the Somerset Mall was sentenced to 26 years in jail this week.
- His alleged accomplice died in a shootout with police after a high-speed chase on the N2.
- The two had walked into the shop with guns and forced staff to hand over the jewels.
A man arrested after the August 2020 jewellery store heist at the Somerset Mall was sentenced to 26 years in jail by the Bellville Commercial Crimes court this week.
Sakhile Thabo Valisi, 33, was found guilty on Wednesday of business robbery, attempted murder, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, defeating the ends of justice, and resisting arrest.
Western Cape police lauded the detectives involved in the case, which began when two men walked into the jewellery shop at the popular mall on 11 August and pointed their guns at the salespeople.
They ran off, but Somerset West and Strand police were alerted by the mall's security and gave chase.
At the time, a News24 journalist reported other shopkeepers describing how the men ran past them carrying guns and loot while others helped the frightened jewellery store staff.
READ | Diamond shop hit by armed robbers at mall in Somerset West
Meanwhile, a police chase was under way, and ended with one police vehicle overturned and its roof crushed, and the robbers' vehicle crashed in a ditch.
Police said that the robbers were cornered on the N2 opposite Khayelitsha. A shootout started up between police and the robbers, and one of the robbery suspects was killed.
Valisi was apprehended, and the jewels were found in the car they used.
"The Western Cape police management has welcomed the sentencing and lauded the arresting officers and the detectives for a job well done," said police spokesperson Captain Nowonga Sukwana.
