Criminal headache for popular soapie actress

250 Actress Maggie Benedict leaves after her case of shoplifting is set for January next year at Randburg Magistrates court. 191213. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

250 Actress Maggie Benedict leaves after her case of shoplifting is set for January next year at Randburg Magistrates court. 191213. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Dec 20, 2013

Share

Johannesburg - The alleged theft of a pack of Panado headache tablets worth R17.90 landed Generations actress Maggie Benedict in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court briefly on Thursday.

Benedict, who plays the role of Akhona Griffith in the soapie, sat in the front row of the public gallery of courtroom 3 with her younger brother. A woman who appeared to be a relative sat next to them.

The well-known soapie actress was arrested on Wednesday afternoon and held at Linden police station for allegedly shoplifting the tablets from the Checkers Hyper at Cresta shopping centre in Randburg.

It is believed she was arrested by the centre’s management after the anti-theft sirens went off at the store.

Speaking later to The Star on Wednesday night, Gauteng police spokeswoman Sergeant Obakeng Mabaso said the woman was arrested around 3.30pm but police wouldn’t reveal her identify before she appeared in court.

Mabaso further said the suspect was in police custody while it was reported that her relatives were battling to make sure she didn’t spend the night behind bars.

When her case was called, Benedict walked straight to the dock without making any contact or turning to the public gallery. Dressed in a black and brown doek, a black coat, skirt and brown boots, the actresses stood in the dock unfazed. The public gallery was quiet as details of Benedict’s charge were read out. The court heard that Benedict has no previous or pending cases against her.

The matter was postponed to January 28 after Benedict’s lawyer, Jonathan Kaiser requested the court to allow his client to sort out her legal representation. Speaking outside court, Kaiser said he expected his client would be acquitted before the matter could go to trial.

Benedict and her brother declined to comment on the matter.

The Star

Related Topics: