WHEN two men accused of raping seven women two years ago at a Soweto informal settlement were confronted with DNA evidence, they pointed a finger at the investigating officer.

Without flinching, Jacinto Chilenge and Felix Machava yesterday told Johannesburg high court Judge Fritz van Oosten that they were not surprised their DNA had been found on the victims.

They claimed Captain Arnel Prinsloo had earlier this year, in a conversation held between the three at Roodepoort magistrate's court on February 14, threatened to plant incriminating evidence if they refused to plead guilty to the 37 charges they faced.

Prinsloo admitted the "informal" conversation took place but denied Chilenge and Machava's assertions.

She said the accused had enquired about their fate, pending the commencement of the case, and she responded.

"They informed me they wanted to plead guilty."

Defence counsel Mzoxolo Bosiki denied his clients had wanted to plead guilty, charging Prinsloo had pressured them to plead guilty because of DNA evidence.

Prinsloo refuted this claim, putting it to Bosiki that since she had DNA evidence, "I wouldn't need to pressure them."