Former Randburg magistrate Johannes Kgomo has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for two charges of corruption by Magistrate Albertus Roux.

He was found guilty in November of corruption under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act after taking a bribe to influence another magistrate to stop the extradition of Botswana fugitive Paul Mthabela.

In a sting operation‚ the Hawks caught Kgomo taking a R150‚000 bribe from Mthabela. Mthabela was a state witness testifying against Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and his five co-accused in a kidnapping‚ assault‚ attempted murder and drug dealing case. He fled Botswana in 2007 after allegedly defrauding the state medical aid scheme of more than R17-million.

He was released on bail in his extradition hearing in 2011 and approached by Kgomo and another man in the court parking lot‚ saying they knew the magistrate who would hear his extradition case. Kgomo said he could assist in making the matter disappear by influencing magistrate Tefo Myambo in exchange for R500‚000.

Mthabela paid R90‚000. He was sentenced to be extradited by Myambo despite the bribe. While appealing the extradition he told police about the bribe.

He again approached Kgomo‚ who asked for the outstanding money to influence Myambo in the appeal. Myambo has since died.

Kgomo pleaded not guilty and said the money was for a BMW he was selling. Magistrate Roux did not accept his testimony and found him guilty in November.