SSA theft accused get bail

The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday granted bail of R10,000 each to third accused Albert Ramabele and accused number two William Mmotong.

Ramabele and Mmotong join co-accused Khayalethu Mgatyelwa who was granted bail of R5,000 about two weeks ago.

State prosecutor Matric Luphondo said the state had no objection to bail being granted to Mmotong and Ramabele as sufficient evidence that it was in the interest of justice that the accused be released on bail, had been provided.

The magistrate said that “the court is satisfied with the evidence produced that it will be in the interest of justice that they get bail” even though the two are facing a Schedule 5 offence.

The magistrate further said that there was no evidence that if released, the suspects were likely to flee the country, interfere with the investigation or endanger the lives of the

witnesses in the case.

Ramabele who is a panelbeater by trade, stated in his affidavit to the court that he did not have a passport and that he did not have any relatives outside the borders of South Africa and had never been beyond the country’s borders.

Meanwhile Mmotong, who the court believes has a diplomatic passport due to the nature of his job as a “VIP Protector” within the State Security Agency, stated that he had no intention of fleeing the country since his wife and children were dependent on him and were resident within the country.

Mgatyelwa, and Mmotong are both employees of the security agency.

The break-in took place on the 27 December last year and the suspects allegedly made off with millions in foreign currency.

Initially it was alleged that the money stolen was worth around R50 million, but later the Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, confirmed that the money stolen was R17 million. - ANA

(File photo: Gallo Images)