Zaphanias Mathe, the father of prison escapee Annanias Mathe, was released from jail after the state withdrew all charges against him on Tuesday.
An attorney at the Oliveira Serrao law firm, Nereyde Namitete, said the toxicology report found that the substance that the older Mathe tried to smuggle inside the C-Max prison in Pretoria contained nothing illegal.
”I can confirm that he has been released as the toxicology report found nothing illegal in the substance,” she said.
Mathe (80) was arrested on May 24 after allegedly trying to smuggle an unknown substance hidden inside a loaf of bread to his son at Pretoria’s C-Max prison.
It is not yet known what the substance is.
He was charged with contravening the Correctional Services Act, which prohibits the smuggling of illegal substances into prisons.
In his court appearance last week, Mathe, from Mozambique, pleaded with the court that he be allowed to go home while his case was being finalised.
He was previously granted R500 bail, but has yet to renew his permit to stay in South Africa, which had expired.
Namitate said she was not at liberty to give out nay information on whether the old man’s permit to stay in the country had been renewed. — Sapa