Zandile Nxumalo presented her report on Wednesday before Judge Soma Naidoo, which looked into the affairs of Ricardo Mettler, who was found guilty of stealing the Pierneef painting worth R8 million. The report indicated that Mettler was not a changed man or even willing to change and this would not assist in the process of the rehabilitation process. She also reported that he is not accepting responsibility for the crime committed. Nxumalo says Mettler gave a piece of contradicting information and disregarded the findings of the court when he was found guilty. 

Mettler's sentencing was postponed to Wednesday 10 March 2021 and he faces a jail term of 15 years imprisonment after he was found guilty on four charges, including theft, fraud, money laundering and perjury.

“My lady, when I went through the statements from the docket and compared them with the information that I received from the accused (Mettler), the information was contradictory, the information was not the same and that showed me that the accused is not a changed man as he was perceived as. A lot of information was found to be contradictory, for example, his salary as well as the responsibilities whereby comparing the information - it was not the same, so that showed me that the accused is not remorseful, he is not willing to change,” Nxumalo said in her report in the High Court on Wednesday.

In her report, Nxumalo indicated that an anonymous source had indicated to her that Mettler wanted to be superior, used his power to mistreat other people and was further described as a violent man who does not have respect for other people.

The defence advocate, Jacques Potgieter, representing Mettler pleaded with Judge Naidoo for a lenient sentence.

Potgieter said in sentencing the Judge needs to consider that the painting was retrieved and Mettler did not benefit financially from this crime. But the state prosecutor, Antoinette Ferreira, however, indicated that there were no compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed sentence of 15 years in prison. Ferreira added that Mettler’s actions were influenced by pure greed and that he was only after money.

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