Durban – Eight accused who face charges in relation to the theft of Telkom, eThekwini and Transnet copper cables estimated at R3 million are expected back in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on October 28.
Four of the eight, Craig Chetty, Dinesh Harilall, Thembinkosi Mnyandu and Sibusiso Ngeneko, were granted bail of R4 000 each.
This was while the other four accused, all Malawians, who also face charges of being in contravention of the Immigration Act were refused bail. The State has had Home Affairs verify that they are in the country illegally.
The State had been opposed to bail for husband and wife, Amadu Juma and Liya Nyirongo, as well as Abdula Juma and his wife, Lesungu Mtola.
It is alleged that on September 7 eight suspects were apprehended by combined authorities at a business area at 3am. Copper estimated in value at R3m, a granulator as well as other specific tools used to steal copper were found at the scene.
In their bid for bail, Chetty and Harilall alleged that they had been at the property to inspect a vehicle they had been mandated to fix by the owner, adding that they had inspected the vehicle two days earlier and found that it needed spares.
They claimed that they had returned there after finding second-hand spares for the vehicle.
Daily News