Crime forum boss’s past convictions

07 June 2012

SUSPENDED Richmond Hill Crime Forum chairman Alan Mounter, who has spearheaded various crime prevention campaigns in the Nelson Mandela Bay suburb, has six previous convictions similar to the offences he claimed to be combating, court documents reveal.

Up until his suspension last week Mounter, 51, was also receiving a stipend for providing security services – responding to residents’ emergency calls – which is in direct contravention of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority Act of 2001 which requires paid security personnel to be registered, which Mounter admitted he was not.

Mounter, who ran the community-driven Richmond Hill neighbourhood watch I-Patrol project and is widely known for his e-mail newsletters, was suspended after being found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm by the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court two weeks ago.

But outraged residents have sent numerous e-mails backing him, saying they want him reinstated as chairman. Mounter’s suspension stems from the assault of Luyanda Msengana, who was squatting in an abandoned building in Central. Mounter was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for five years, against which he is appealing.

Official court documents from the national criminal record centre – seen by The Herald – reveal he has six previous convictions.

In 1980 he was convicted in Pretoria of two counts of theft and, according to the document, "making conflicting statements”. He was given a suspended sentence or an option of paying a fine.

A year later, also in Pretoria, he was found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol and, months later, for "possession or use of a prohibited dependence-producing drug or plant”.

In 1992 Mounter was convicted again, in Port Elizabeth, for driving under the influence of alcohol and given a fine and suspended sentence.

In 1993, he was re-arrested in Cape Town for, again, "possession or use of a prohibited dependence-producing drug or plant” and given a R300 fine or 30 days’ imprisonment.

Three years later, he was detained in Port Elizabeth for reckless and negligent driving. He was later convicted and given a suspended sentence.

Mounter’s suspension has led forum officials to request an internal forensic audit on funds donated by residents towards the project. Other forum documents reveal that every month since December 2010 funds of between R900 and R5000 were withdrawn from the crime forum account, under the title "chairman gratuity”.

According to Richmond Hill residents, on a monthly basis Mounter would send two boxes around during sector crime meetings in an attempt to raise funds.

"One box was for funds for the I-Patrol vehicle and the other for himself,” said a resident who declined to be named. "He does not hide the fact that he is being paid by the community. If you do not pay, you do not get help.”

According to John Preller, chairman of the Community Policing Forum which governs the Richmond Hill forum, internal policy did not allow anyone with a criminal record to serve on the committee.

Mounter said his convictions happened "many years ago. I was young and still growing up.”

He admitted money was paid by the community for his services.

"I do get money from the community for working 24 hours, but it is what they want to give. No one forces anyone to give money.”

Reader's Comments

Report Abuse Author: Wizard Date: 11 June 2012 22:24

I have been living in Richmond Hill for 11 years. In the time that Alan has been chairman of the crime forum i personally have seen a drastic drop in crime or people loitering the streets be it day or night. I have personally phoned him at wee hours of the morning and he attends to the problem in a flash. Those who are slandering him in my view are just plain jealous of the good work he is doing and has done. Who knows if he was first attacked by this vagrant? And acted in self defense! So i am alone in our streets and i get attacked, i cant fight back to protect myself as i dont have a witness!!! Absolutely ludicrous, i will fight to the kill! Alan dont let words and skinner take away your passion for what you are doing. The little click that are against you are worth nothing!

Report Abuse Author: Gatekeeper Date: 09 June 2012 9:50

Alan did good work in the area, but we need to understand that you cant take this action personally. The law is there for a reason. If someone other than Alan were the centre of this discussion, there probably wouldnt have been a discussion. Richmond Hill wants to go the SRA route. There are so many legalities concerning that and the community has to be registered at PSIRA themselves if they want to employ a person doing security work, such as Alan. Apart from it being a costly affair to comply with all the regulations, the guy, or guys, doing Alan's work, will have to be registered as well. It is unfortunate that he has made bad choices in the past, but this is how life balances itself. I am sure they can still use him to move the black bags and all the other stuff he used to do to make the suburb such a nice place to live in. Just not the security. Off course that will make the monthly SRA fees more, but I guess if everyone cares for him they wont mind paying more?

Report Abuse Author: Ruffstuff786 Date: 07 June 2012 13:22

@Boetman, his past predicted his future.So even if it happened long ago.He has a criminal record PERIOD.Doing good now wipes away the past.I don;t think so.Cheers.Think before you act.It is simple LOGIC.

Report Abuse Author: Boetman Date: 07 June 2012 13:11

It is a pity the Herald is biased and reports on the negative only in this matter. How about Alan turning his own and many other lives round? What a shame the Herald has joined the tabloids - it used to be such a good read. Jan

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CHEQUERED PAST: Richmond Hill Crime Forum’s suspended chairman Alan Mounter says his past offences all occurred when he was young and ‘still growing up’

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