Staff Reporter
Ace Magashule’s ex-driver and bodyguard has been found guilty of stealing a painting valued at R8-million which once hung in the former Free State premier’s office.
The Bloemfontein High Court today convicted Ricardo Mettler, 43, on charges of theft, money laundering and fraud.
The case arose following the disappearance of the valuable JH Pierneef painting from the Free State provincial government’s OR Tambo building in Bloemfontein in 2018.
Mettler first appeared in court in March this year following an investigation by the Hawks that established he had stolen the Pierneef painting.
The former driver and bodyguard tried to sell the artwork for R2-million to a Bloemfontein businessman who then went on to have the piece evaluated by Strauss and Co, from where the alarm was raised as it was identified as the provincial government’s asset valued at approximately R8-million.
In his initial statement, Mettler claimed that he had been gifted the valuable piece by Magashule after he was elected ANC secretary-general.
The court however found him guilty on four counts of theft, money laundering and fraud.
The case has been postponed to December 15 for a report of a social worker before Mettler can be sentenced.