OR Tambo heist suspects get bail‚ magistrate slates 'dubious' case

10 April 2017 - 13:00 By Kyle Cowan
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Thando Sonqishe and Prince Raphael appear at the Kempton Park Magistrates Court during their bail application on 28 March. The two were arrested in connection with the OR Tambo heist and are facing charges of armed robbery.
Thando Sonqishe and Prince Raphael appear at the Kempton Park Magistrates Court during their bail application on 28 March. The two were arrested in connection with the OR Tambo heist and are facing charges of armed robbery.
Image: Alaister Russell/The Times

Three of the men accused of being behind the cash heist at OR Tambo International Airport last month have been granted bail by the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.

Sibusiso Job Mnisi‚ a maintenance worker at Guard Force International‚ was granted bail of R50‚000‚ businessman Prince Raphael Dube was granted bail of R150‚000‚ while another businessman Thando Sonqishe was granted bail of R100‚000.

Magistrate Amukelani Msimeki said the state’s case “was subject to serious doubt”‚ but set strict bail conditions‚ which include reporting to Kempton Park and Midrand police stations on certain days of the week as well as not being allowed to leave the Gauteng province without permission from the investigating officer.

  • OR Tambo heist: Kempton Park court to rule on bail for suspectsFor two weeks‚ the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court has heard evidence supporting and opposing bail for the men accused of the daring heist at OR Tambo International Airport last month. 

“The likelihood of investigations taking a long time to finalise and for further evidence to be brought against the accused‚ if any‚ to link them to the crime‚ is in itself an exceptional circumstance‚” she said.

Msimeki said the strict bail conditions were to allay fears the accused would evade trial and added the state had brought no evidence before the court to link the accused to the heist.

“There is no DNA‚ video footage or other evidence before this court to prove the accused were actually at the scene of the crime‚” she said.

Msimeki is also expected to rule on the bail applications of co-accused France Manaka‚ Simon Thokwane and Cosmos Ntanzi on Tuesday.

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