Kapris' jail term put off

Prison escapee and bank robber William Kapris, attributing his suspended sentencing yesterday to a “miracle from God”, before boarding a guarded Toyota Landcruiser for the trip back to the Bomana prison camp

PRISON escapee and robber William Kapris got off lightly yesterday for his part in the armed robbery of the Metals Refining Operations (MRO) in 2007.

National Court judge Justice Bernard Sakora sentenced him to five years in jail, then deducted two years for time already spent in jail, and suspended the remaining three years, The National reports.

The judge felt he deserved to be placed on good behaviour bond for this period.

The sentence was light because the robbery did not involve violence, Kapris admitting to the crime and cooperated and others, who were involved, were still out there.

Sakora described Kapris as “a sacrificial lamb” who should “not be held accountable for the sins of others”.

A smiling and elated Kapris told the media just before boarding the Bomana-bound 10-seater Toyota Landcruiser that the courts decision was “a miracle from God”.

When handing down the decision, the judge noted that there were many others involved in the MRO robbery of Feb 14, 2007, in which K78, 000 cash and four gold bars valued at K2, 066,115.56 were taken.

These have not been recovered.

The judge said the court took into account Kapris’ cooperation with the authorities.

“He over-cooperated with police and everybody and anyone who wanted to talk with him.”

The judge said the sentence he imposed could be seen as a deterrent.

The judge said based on the evidence before him, there were many unanswered questions as to the whereabouts of others who were involved in the “inside job” robbery.

He called on relevant government authorities to fully investigate and prosecute “the others” involved in the “highly sophisticated and properly planned” armed robbery.

“Where are the others who were involved in this highly-organised armed robbery with him?” the judge asked, saying that Kapris should “not be held accountable for the sins of others”.

“Others were involved; it was night, how could MRO employee Fiona Augerea answers readily to the tooting of the bus?

“You would not have got into MRO without insiders,” the judge said, pointing out that he had watched the MRO close circuit television (CCTV) replay of the robbery taking place on the night of Feb 14, 2007.

Sakora said the CCTV replay showed no indication that the MRO employees were being held under threat while the robbery took place.

“Even the man with the pistol was holding it with the muzzle pointing downwards.

“You don’t just walk into a tightly secured setup like MRO. Someone from inside knew the safety lock,” he said.

“What happened to Alfie (Alphonse Silas), the supposed mastermind of the MRO robbery?

“There was proper planning; vehicles were hired and the provision of the police uniforms. Who gave it to them; where did they get it from?”