Traffic officer’s killer convicted, family seek maximum sentence

THE family of a KwaDukuza traffic officer who was shot while investigating a stationary taxi, are hoping for the maximum sentence after his killer was convicted of murder.

- NADIA KHAN

Senior Superintendent Mariemuthoo Desmond Arumugam

Senior Superintendent Mariemuthoo Desmond Arumugam, 50, of Tongaat, was employed at the KwaDukuza Municipality's traffic department.

The father of three was shot while investigating a stationary taxi on the N2 Groutville off-ramp on November 4 last year.

Philakahle Hloniphani Dladla, 26, was also found guilty on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition in the Durban High Court last Friday.

At the start of the trial, State advocate Rakesh Singh said Dladla, who was a passenger in a minibus taxi, had planned to rob the driver and the passengers of their cash and cellphones.

He said on the day of the incident, Dladla boarded a fully-loaded taxi at the KwaDukuza taxi rank and took a seat in the front passenger position.

The other complainants in the robbery with aggravating circumstances charges were the driver of the taxi and a passenger, who was seated in the second row.