Cape Town — The Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo has postponed the bail application of the three accused to next Friday in the Phala Phala burglary in 2020.
Imanuwela David, Froliana Joseph and her brother David Joseph face three charges, including conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal, SABC News reported.
They are believed to be behind the theft of over $500 000 from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. Joining his co-accused for the first time in the dock, Joseph handed himself over to the investigation officer on Thursday.
In sworn statements, the siblings said they were both born and raised on a farm near Bela-Bela and that that they had handed their passports to police.
[WATCH] Imanuwela David, Froliana Joseph and David Joseph (brother to Froliana) enter the courtroom.
The three are accused of breaking into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in February 2020 and stealing about $580k in cash. TCG pic.twitter.com/FNnjHdl3fM
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 10, 2023
I further submit that I will be acquitted at the end of the trial as I believe the State does not have a strong case against me,” defence lawyer Mike Mokgobu said.
According to EWN, Magistrate Predeshni Poonan ordered that the baby be brought into the cell three times a day for breastfeeding.
“Remember there is already an effect because you don’t feed as and when there is a need, you only feed per schedule created by the court. So obviously it’s gonna create some challenges.” Poonan said.
The trio will spend a week behind bars after their bail judgment was reserved.
The state did not oppose bail because it believes the suspects are not a flight risk and they’ve cooperated with the police.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
