S. African court sentences three for robbing World Cup covering journos

Johannesburg, June 14 (ANI): South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority has sentenced two of three men to 15 years in prison each for the armed robbery of three foreign journalists in Magaliesburg.

The third was convicted of receiving stolen property and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, Sports24.com reported.

Bright Madzudzu, a Zimbabwean national, Obunna Ndzubuisi a Nigerian national and George Magubane also from Zimbabwe, were convicted and sentenced in Protea Regional Court in Soweto on Friday night.

One Spanish and two Portuguese journalists - Antonio Simoes, Rui Gustavo and Miquel Cerano - were asleep in their room at the Nutbush Boma lodge in Magaliesburg on Wednesday morning when the robbers broke into the room.

Armed with a firearm and knife, the robbers stole items including cameras, laptops, clothes, a passport and cash in euros and US dollars.

The police have recovered some of the items.

The estimated value of the stolen property is Rand 388 000.

Eight cases have now been heard in some of the 56 courts dedicated to deal with all criminal cases relating to the FIFA 2010 World Cup soccer tournament. (ANI)