Kampala | Wednesday
THE man dubbed South Africa’s cash heist mastermind, Collin Chauke, and a co-accused could go free on Thursday when judgment is given on a charge of robbery with aggravated circumstances in the Pretoria Regional Court.
Chauke and Ellie Lucas Yende were acquitted in July on seven of eight charges against them for the October 18, 1997 cash heist at the Arcadia SBV cash depot in Pretoria in which R12,6-million was taken.
Among the charges they were acquitted on was the kidnapping of SBV employees, illegal possession of firearms and theft of a vehicle.
The two other accused, Mafika Mahlangu and Patrick Hlongwane, were acquitted on all eight charges.
The remaining charge against Chauke and Yende was robbery with aggravating circumstances with an alternative charge of either theft or the possession of stolen money.
Magistrate Reinard de Vos in July said he would give the reasons for the acquittal on Thursday.
Yende was last year convicted with 10 others in the Pretoria High Court for the R17-million Bronkhorstspruit heist in 1997. He is currently serving a double life term and 23 years in prison for the murder of two security guards, the attempted murder of Pretoria’s emergency services head, Gordon Kuhn, and vehicle theft for the heist.
Shortly after the acquittal, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka expressed concern saying he had been assured there was strong evidence against the accused. He had asked for a report from the investigating team. – Sapa