Security heist accused get bail
BAIL of R10 000 each has been granted to the remaining four accused who were still in custody following their arrests for the G4S security cash heist during which a security guard was held up and R36 million and a .38 revolver, access cards and a company cellphone were taken.
The incident happened at the G4S offices in Kimberley in May this year.
The accused, Sergeant Samuel Jantjies, who was employed at the SAPS Tactical Response Team, company employee Jennifer Claasen, along with Constable Hendrik Daniels and Jean-Pierre Wolfaard, who were charged for theft, money laundering and obstructing justice, made an application to the Northern Cape High Court on Friday for an appeal.
Bail was denied in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on August 22 as the State believed that their release would interfere with the criminal investigation.
The other co-accused, Densel Deon Jantjies, Conrad Christopher Buys, Charles Buys and Andries Buys, received R10 000 bail each in August.
Legal representative for Hendrik Daniels, Advocate Maru Maphalla, stated that his client was only implicated in a statement that was offered to the police by two of the other co-accused.
“This does not amount to a confession. The investigating team searched his house and could not find any evidence against him. When there is no case or the evidence against the accused is weak, the accused should be given the benefit of the doubt and should not suffer further incarceration.”
Maphalla added that his client was not a flight risk and was willing to attend all court proceedings.
State advocate Quinton Hollander admitted that the so-called confessions offered by some of the accused were not valid admissions of guilt.
“There is no evidence to suggest that the accused are flight risks.”
He pointed out that the offence involved the theft of a large amount of cash, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice.
“The evidence will unfold through the process of the police investigation as well as the involvement of other people connected to the money laundering charge.”
Hollander added that prosecution would provide the representative attorneys with the names of witnesses and potential witnesses.
Acting Judge Lawrence Lever granted bail on the appeal, on provision that none of the accused intimidate, contact or interfere with any State witness or potential witness, their relatives or friends.
This included phone calls, e-mails and text messages.
The accused will not be permitted to travel beyond the borders of the Province without permission of the investigating officer.
They will also be expected to attend all court appearances.
The other legal representatives for the appellants were Advocate Sakkie Nel and Advocate Ferdi van Heerden.