By Joseph Makua and Sapa
A woman who had just had a miscarriage was among five suspects who have appeared in court in connection with the multi-million-rand heist at Johannesburg International Airport.
The woman, an Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) official, two other Acsa officials and two Zimbabweans, appeared briefly in the Kempton Park regional court on Wednesday and were not asked to plead. The suspects were arrested on Monday and charged with armed robbery.
According to police spokesperson Superintendent Vish Naidoo, the two foreigners were arrested near the Beit Bridge border with Zimbabwe. Police said $200 000 (over R1,2-million) in cash was found in the car in which they were travelling, apparently on their way to Zimbabwe. He said more arrests were likely.
Continues Below ↓
The five suspects are linked to an armed robbery at the airport on Saturday in which gunmen held up guards at the gates and helped themselves to an estimated $16,5-million flown in from Britain in a South African Airways aircraft.
Lean and wearing a headscarf, the woman maintained a serious expression during the court session. Unconfirmed reports said she was a sister of one of the accused. Her lawyer made an application on her behalf that she be sent straight to hospital as she recently had a miscarriage and needed medical attention.
The application was granted and the magistrate ordered that she be kept under police guard at all times.
Another accused claimed through his legal representative that he sustained injuries after police assaulted him during his arrest. And the two foreigners also lodged a complaint through their lawyer that police had forced them to make statements.
The court granted an application that lawyers be given copies of the statements so they can prepare for a bail application on April 7. The state asked that all the suspects be kept at the Benoni police cells until their next appearance.
Meanwhile, Acsa spokesperson Solomon Makgale said internal disciplinary action would be taken if the arrested employees indeed took part in the robbery.
"It is very unfortunate that our own staff are implicated in this manner," Makgale said. He could not comment on the likelihood of more Acsa workers being arrested.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on March 30, 2006
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
