E130 000 BAIL FOR COUPLE NABBED WITH E1.5M GOLD

MBABANE – The South African couple that was found in possession of gold worth E1.5 million and drugs has been admitted to E65 000 bail per person.

They were ordered to pay the aforementioned amount in cash, without providing any sureties. Julius Mostert (38) and Joani-Stasja Meiring (36), both from Pretoria, were also found in possession of 12 pieces of silver weighing 4.54 kilogrammes valued at E28 620. They were from Mozambique when the law enforcers pounced on them at Lomahasha Border Gate.

Their admission to bail yesterday came after Advocate Mduduzi ‘Tsotsi’ Mabila energetically argued that the interest of justice favoured that they be released from custody. The couple was initially admitted to E705 000 bail by Magistrate Musa Nxumalo.  The magistrate had ordered them to pay E5 000 cash and provide sureties for the value of E700 000.

Advocate Mabila yesterday argued that the accused persons had property held by the Crown in excess of E1.6 million, in the form of the minerals (pieces of gold and silver) and a motor vehicle. He averred that the property alone was sufficient sureties.

The advocate also submitted that the duo had made a further offer to pay E25 000 each in cash to gain their liberty. “The accused persons have mentioned on affidavit that they will not attempt to evade trial as this would mean that they would lose their investment in the form of the minerals and the motor vehicle  for an offence they believe they had reasonable prospects of success on,” argued the advocate.

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