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Four suspects arrested for drug trafficking appear before the Benoni Magistrate’s Court.
The legal representative of five women arrested at OR Tambo International Airport last month has suggested the accused may have been coerced into committing the offences.
Three of the five have appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
The group was en route to China via Dubai when they were arrested.
Vuyokazi Toko, Zodwa Mthombeni, Nemukondeni Mulweli Precious, Dayimani Nomgcisa and Elisa Thuli Shikwambane face charges related to drug trafficking.
Police say drugs were found concealed in the suspects’ sneakers, underwear and on their bodies.
The matter has been postponed to Thursday for the bail application of four of the accused, while the first accused, Toko is expected back in court next Monday for a bail judgment.
Their lawyer, Wisani Monareng, says the women may have been held against their will.
“I think if you have heard our affidavit, one will have heard that we gave sufficient information to show that the accused were kept against their will, and we mentioned also the people that kept them against their will,” says Monareng.
“Our affidavit des have that, and for sure you saw some of the media houses did take pictures of the affidavit. So, I think when you go through that, you’ll see what this affidavit is. Well, the issue of bail, the magistrate is the one that decides whether one is a candidate for bail or not. My job is to simply put factors before the magistrate that my clients are candidates to be released on bail,” he adds.
