Thulsie twins case postponed again

The terror case against twins Brandon-lee and Tony-lee Thulsie was yesterday again postponed in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court – this time because the defence needs digital records of the entire matter.

It has been a year since the twins were arrested on suspicion of plotting terror attacks in South Africa.

The twins, behind bars since their arrest in July 2016, have been charged with conspiracy and incitement to commit the crime of terrorism and conspiring and attempting to commit acts as- sociated with terrorist activities.

Prosecutor Adele Barnard told the court yesterday that 212 pages of statements previously requested by the defence had been handed to them. However, Barnard said she had received an e-mail from the defence notifying her that they could not open the digital copies.

The state said it was willing to print the documents, but it would require finance.

Advocate Anneline van den Heever, for the defence, said “special” software was needed to download certain parts of the document and that the state had to apply for finance to get hard copies printed as soon as possible as the documents would be needed when the case goes to trial.

A 13-page indictment of the matter suggests that the twins were attempting to join Islamic State and that the terrorist activities would have been perpetrated by using firearms, explosives and possibly poisons.

The attacks would have been directed at various Pretoria embassies, including the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States. – ANA