Bellville prosecuting authorities on Wednesday withdrew charges against a bomb hoaxer on board a kulula.com flight out of Cape Town.
Alberton stock controller Barend Griffin (26) had joked that he had a bomb in a carton that contained a bathroom appliance while at Cape Town International Airport waiting to board a flight to Johannesburg.
Magistrate David Tonisi announced the withdrawal of a charge, brought under the Aviation Act, during a brief appearance by Griffin on Wednesday.
Tonisi said the move was at the request of court prosecutor Shinaaz Japhta.
Senior prosecutor Ronel de Jager said it had been obvious that airport personnel checking in his baggage understood his remark to be a joke and did not consider it to be a threat of any kind.
De Jager said the airport staff not only allowed Griffin’s baggage to be loaded on to the flight — without considering it necessary to subject it to a search — but allowed him to board the plane too.
The decision was made after representations by lawyer David Sauls. — Sapa