Durban - Lawyers for members of the alleged Kloof and Crestholme drug syndicate say the State is “deliberately misleading” the court by failing to provide the accused with DNA test results promptly.
The Kloof accused Chinese nationals Wing Lik Wong, 58, and Kin Hung Yip, 56, Warren Daniels, 24, of Cape Town, and Chatsworth resident, Junaid Rasool, 24, have been charged with dealing in or alternatively, being in possession of Methaqualone, the active ingredient in the manufacture of mandrax.
They appeared briefly from Westville Prison via a live TV feed displayed at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday for their bail application and were followed by the Crestholme group.
Advocate Willie Lombard, representing Rasool, the registered owner of the Kloof property who handed himself to police, said he had requested the State provide him with DNA results so they could use it in their bail application.
State advocate Wendy Greef, however, denied delaying the test results, saying evidence from tests on clothing found in the property might favour some of the accused.
“It could go either way and show someone else’s results. So it is important to get the DNA for evidence. The DNA has been taken for accused number four (Rasool), and there is no DNA link for the accused,” Greef said.
The State said it still had to conduct DNA tests on the Chinese nationals.
All were denied bail.
The Crestholme accused - Denver Solomon Joseph, 30, Gonasagren Mooroogasen, 36, Norman Reynaud, 62, and Jerrico Chetty, 39, then made their court appearance via the TV link.
They have been charged with drug manufacturing or being in possession of Methaqualone, after they were arrested on July 24.
The State had alleged the two groups were part of a syndicate involved in drug manufacturing.
Lombard, who represents Reynaud and Chetty, said it was crucial to their defence that they be provided with the DNA results of tests of the items found at the property.
The State was deliberately misleading the court by not providing the DNA, he claimed.
“We request the State to supply the defence with the analyses and true facts of the items found in the premises by Friday (October 3),” Lombard said.
The DNA analyses he is seeking relates to Methaqualone traces allegedly found in the bakkie at the property, that was driven by Mooroogasen.
Greef said the tests and analyses would be finalised soon and would be available next week.
The Crestholme group’s bail application has still to be decided.
The groups were arrested in July.
Police found R20 million worth of mandrax, drug manufacturing and packaging equipment at the Kloof house.
The Hawks and police seized a pressing and drying machine and chemicals believed to be used in the manufacture of mandrax in the Crestholme property in River View Drive, near Waterfall.
The accused in both cases were remanded in custody until November 28.
Daily News