OFM
The ex-driver for former Free State Premier, Ace Magashule, has been found guilty on four charges including the theft of a Pierneef painting worth R8 million rand.
He was convicted in the Bloemfontein High Court on Thursday.
In the judgment, Judge Soma Naidoo said she was satisfied that prosecutor, Antoinette Ferreira, had proved the state's case against Ricardo Mettler beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mettler was found guilty on four charges of theft, fraud, money laundering and perjury, pertaining to an affidavit he made about obtaining the multi-million rand piece of art.
However, Judge Naidoo acquitted him on one count of contravening Section 32(13) of the National Heritage Resources Act.
Mettler was charged and appeared in court in 2019 after the painting was seized by the Hawks.
Magashule testified during the trial that when he was vacating the Premier's office, he had given various personal items to different people, including Mettler.
He also told the court at the time that he did not even know if 'Pierneef' was a painting or an actual person.
Mettler claimed in his initial statement that the painting had been given to him as a gift by Magashule during the move to his new position as ANC Secretary-General.
(Source: OFM)
