The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court convicted Jacobeth Lepinka (52), the National Prosecuting Authority Assistant Director, and her son, Kedifentse (28) on 17 February 2023 for charges relating to accessing top secret information. Police spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo reported that NPA discovered in 2014 that Lepinka had taken a laptop with classified information to her residence without authorisation, leading to a case of theft and a report to the Hawks’ Head Office-based Serious Corruption Investigation team.
After a lengthy investigation, the two were summoned to court and found guilty of fraud charges, unauthorised access to information and unauthorised disclosure of information. Jacobeth was convicted on all three charges while Kedifentse was only convicted of unauthorised access to information. Both will be sentenced on 16 May 2023.
The National Prosecuting Authority has taken a firm stance against those who unlawfully access or disclose classified information. The conviction of Jacobeth Lepinka and her son is an example of the consequences of breaking the law and accessing information without authorisation. It is a reminder that top-secret information should not be taken lightly and handled with caution.
Tags: National Prosecuting Authority NPA