/ 17 August 1999

CHAUKE’S CASE POSTPONED TO THURSDAY

THE case against alleged heist kingpin Collin Chauke, (29) and six co-accused on charges of escaping has been postponed in abstentia to Thursday by the Pretoria Regional Court. The case will be heard in the Pretoria Central prison court early on Thursday morning, so that all the accused can be present. Chauke and his co-accused face charges of escaping from custody following a daring breakout at the Pretoria Central prison on December 5, 1997. Two of the escapees were rearrested before they fled the prison grounds, while the other accused, including Chauke, shot their way out of the prison after they smuggled a gun into the cells. Chauke and four others are facing additional charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. The postponement was granted after state prosecutor Shana Hitchcock told the court that Seane and Ngobese are currently on trial in the Pretoria High Court in connection with the R18 million Bronkhorstspruit heist.