Two ‘not linked’ to chief justice office break-in

PRETORIA: An attorney representing two men who appeared in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court yesterday, in connection with a break-in at the offices of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, said his clients were not linked to the crime.

“There were no computers found with them, there were no computers found where they stay,” Sammy Mahlangu told reporters.

Given Msimango, 20, and Bigboy Jose, 37, briefly appeared in court yesterday afternoon after they were both arrested on Monday.

Msimango faces charges of possessing unlicensed firearms and live ammunition and Jose has been charged with the contravention of Identity Act.

According to the charge sheet, Msimango had two unlicensed firearms and 36 rounds of live ammunition, Jose was found with four identity documents which had his pictures but belonged to different people.

Mahlangu said he did not understand why Msimango was charged with two counts of possession of unlicensed firearms because one weapon was not in his possession.

“Unfortunately I can’t mention the address where the other firearm was found because it will prejudice the person,” Mahlangu said.

“But there is no way anybody can think that these people are linked with the break-in or robbery that took place at the Chief Justice’s office.

“The charges here are clear, it’s fraudulent documents and unlicensed firearms.”

He said the only reason the police arrested his clients was because they got information that they might find computers at his client’s house.

“If they were directly linked to the Chief Justice break-in, the charges would have been on the charge sheet,” Mahlangu said.

Mahlangu said initially three men were arrested but one was released because there was not enough evidence to charge him.

On Saturday morning, 15 laptops containinginformation on Constitutional Court judges and officials were stolen from the Chief Justice’s offices in Midrand.

The matter was postponed to March 30, for bail application.