More than R13-million is still missing after a Benoni police safe containing airport heist money was broken into, the town’s magistrate’s court heard on Wednesday.
Only R340 000 of the R14-million — in US dollars and rands — that had been stolen had been recovered so far, said state prosecutor Peter-John Smith.
Six people have been arrested in connection with the theft which took place on April 26. One of them was released on Wednesday on a warning from the court.
Magistrate Almarie Schutte said based on the evidence before her there was no need to keep Tshepo Mathe (28) in custody.
She reserved judgement in the bail applications of Mathe’s co-accused.
Sergeant Khomani Robert Mashele (40) Inspector Muchovhi Mthembi (38) Inspector Paul Kgoedi (41) and civilians Richard Sibuyi (38) and Samson Baloyi (28) face provisional charges of housebreaking with intent to steal, and theft.
Smith said seven suspects were still at large.
Judgement in the bail application will be given on June 22. Mathe was ordered to report to the court on that day.
Defence lawyers argued that there was not enough evidence linking their clients to the crime. There were no fingerprints, no eyewitnesses, and the money found in their clients’ possession was not marked. They said their clients would not interfere with the investigation, and would not leave the country.
The defence argued that the accused were not safe in prison. Earlier on Wednesday the court heard that two witnesses had mysteriously died, and one had gone missing while in protective custody.
A witness only known as Solly had died of suffocation when a policeman took him from his home for further investigation, Smith said.
Another witness known as Mike had been shot in the back after a policeman took him from protective custody for further investigation. The third witness ran away from protective custody leaving behind all his belongings.
Smith said the state did not know the identity of the policemen who booked out the witnesses, as the case was investigated by different police units, including the North West police.
He said it was in the suspects’ own interest to remain in custody as their lives may also be in danger. Some of the accused had complained of being tortured and forced to confess to the crime.
The magistrate told the investigating officer not to allow police not involved in the case to book out the accused from prison.
Police have yet to confirm whether the money stolen in the airport robbery on March 25 was in fact in the police station’s safe.
In their bail application the five accused said they were innocent and asked the court to grant them bail. – Sapa