File
The National Prosecuting Authority says 65-year-old Warrant Officer Daniel Reynecke, was sentenced this week in the Regional Court to 15 years direct imprisonment for the theft of firearms.
Spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson Kara, said Reynecke was a member of the Durban Organised Crime Unit from 1976 to 2015.
She said he was convicted on four counts of the theft of firearms, two counts of the possession of prohibited firearms as well as possession of ammunition and loss of a firearm.
“During his career, Reynecke was stationed at various policing units in KwaZulu-Natal, and part of his duties was to investigate criminal matters. This would mean fetching firearms, and taking them for ballistic testing.” Ramkisson-Kara said.
“During the commission of his duties, Reynecke would book out the exhibits (firearms) and not return them. Following a detailed investigation, it was discovered that he was the investigating officer in the matters where the firearms found in his possession, were exhibits.”
Ramkisson-Kara said two of the firearms, which he signed for in 1997 and 2001, were found in a river in Amanzimtoti, about 500 metres away from where he resided at the time.
“Other firearms were found in his office, even though there was a standing order which did not permit the members of the OCU to keep exhibits on the premises. Two of the firearms found in his office had no dockets registered for them and no serial numbers, thus rendering him in possession of prohibited firearms,” she said.
Reynecke was sentenced to five years imprisonment for the theft of firearms, 10 years imprisonment for the possession of firearms, and three-year imprisonment for the loss of the firearm and possession of ammunition.
“The three years will run concurrently with the 10-year sentence, resulting in the effective 15 years imprisonment,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
