South Africa News

Cash heist accused claims police torture

One of four men charged for a cash-in-transit heist says he and his co-accused were tortured by police into confessing to the crime.

Four cash-in-transit heist suspects, among them former ANC employee Velile Errol Present, returned to the Roodepoort magistrate’s court on Friday.

They’re seeking bail following their arrest last month in relation to a cash heist in Dobsonville, Soweto, which left a security guard injured.

cash-in-transit heist suspects

Zakhele Zondi told the court that all four of them were tortured by police when they were questioned about the heist.

He says they were beaten if their responses were not what the officers wanted to hear.

Zondi says Present appeared to be injured when he first saw him in police custody on the day they were arrested.

However, during cross-examination by the state, Zondi refused to say whether he had made any statements to the police regarding the Dobsonville heist.

Another accused, Itumeleng Manama, told the court he will plead not guilty, as the police have not found the money or the car stolen and used in the heist.

Present will argue his case when the matter resumes on 31 August.

Source: News24

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