Lawyers for seven men accused of a multimillion-dollar heist at Johannesburg International airport have objected to a police demand for samples of their blood.
The Kempton Park Regional Court heard on Wednesday that the state wants the men’s DNA tested to determined whether any of it matches a trace of sweat found on a bolt-cutter left at the scene of the robbery.
Initially, the lawyers had not heard exactly why the blood was required.
”We need to know what it’s for,” said lawyer Mohamed Mayet. ”It could be for Aids or else it might be for a paternity test. We must be told what this is all about.”
The seven were among nine accused — including employees of the Airports Company South Africa — who appeared in court on Wednesday.
They are all scheduled to appear in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday when they will appeal against being refused bail.
Magistrate Eric Mhlari postponed the case to July 12.
He ruled that if the investigating officer and lawyers cannot reach an out-of-court agreement on the blood tests, the state could apply for blood samples on the next court date.
Another six accused are to bring a bail application in the Kempton Park court on Thursday.
Since the initial arrests, armed robbers have broken into the safe of the police’s serious and violent crimes in Benoni, where money stolen in the heist, but subsequently recovered, was kept.
Police have not confirmed whether any of the money taken during the airport heist was stolen from the police-station safe.
Three police officers and two civilians have been arrested in connection with the case and are expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Nazir Ismail, Magdalena Moonsamy, Rookaya Ebrahim, Sean Soobramoney, Mzikise Maqwaza, Vusimuzi Ichumelo, Phutsitsi and Annanius Nepfumbe, and Danisa Nee Tsuma, face charges of conspiracy to commit robbery.
A 10th alleged robber, Bhekithembo Khumalo (34), died of wounds he sustained when he was shot during his arrest two weeks ago. — Sapa