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• Cops bust for help in heist and for fraud

About R100million was stolen in one of the country's most daring heists.

The conviction comes after a trial lasting six years, more than 50 postponements and 57 testimonies from state witnesses.

Two of the convicted men are already serving life terms for unrelated armed robberies, while another is serving 20 years for murder. They committed these crimes while on bail for the airport robbery.

Yesterday the court found Fox Sithole, Eddie Ubisi and Ronny Mbuyisa guilty of attempted robbery, while Ananius Nepfumembe and Thokozani Ziqubu were found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Sithole and Ubisi are already serving life in prison for an unrelated armed robbery, while Ziqubu is serving 20 years for murder.

Uakareraije Maundu, who was found in possession of $19000 of the stolen airport money, was found guilty of being an accessory to robbery, while Christopher Billings, who is said to be the mastermind behind the robbery failed to pitch up in court. He was out on bail and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Late yesterday police said they found and arrested him in Boksburg.

Cecil Arendse, who was accused number 11 in the case, was acquitted and is a free man. Though the suspects were all charged with armed robbery, Judge Nico Coetzee said evidence brought before him showed that not all of them had physically taken part in the robbery.

Three other men implicated in the robbery have died.

The gang colluded with three airport employees, Nazir Ishmael, Sean Soobramoney and Magdeline Moosa, in robbing an international flight carrying foreign currency destined for FNB and Standard Bank. The airport workers turned state's witnesses in return for lenient sentences.

Ishmael, who is serving a 20-year suspended sentence, testified that Billings came to him with the idea of robbing an aircraft. Judge Coetzee dismissed this yesterday, saying Ishmael was not an honest witness.

"The reason why Ishmael agreed to confess was that the state had undertaken that he would be free if he confessed," Coetzee said.

The court heard that after Billings introduced Ishmael to other gang members, Soobramoney, who was to be responsible for providing access cards to the robbers, was roped in while Billings' task was to buy reflector jackets. Soobramoney was the control officer at the airport.

Moosa was airport parking controller and was recruited to ensure the aircraft the gang intended to rob parked close to the exit gate.

The judge said the state had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime. He however denied testimony by the state witnesses that Arendse had been paid R10000 to take part in the robbery, saying "how could he take such a little money while everybody was getting off with millions?"

He said he was impressed with Arendse's testimony and found him not guilty.

Coetzee described Ishmael and Soobramoney as dishonest witnesses who only confessed to get a lighter sentence.

Sentencing was postponed to July 19. - alfredm@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Thu May 23 10:08:38 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 12, 2012

Pointman

They got what was coming to them but why did it take so long. The airport employees should be in jail too since they obviously put the lives of people using the airport in danger. A 20 year suspended sentence is not justice.
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Jul 12, 2012

Baba_T

Bla Bla Bla!!! Sentencing them to Jail but no Money found

Where is the MONEY!!!


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Jul 12, 2012

Mellow

Oohhh Magdeline you such a bad bad girl the only greedy biach in the group of dangerous men aaghhh nee man serves you all right go fry in jail 20yrs suspended sentence is nothing julle is crooks
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Jul 12, 2012

MommaC

What the hell is wrong with our judicial system? 5 years for a case and over 50 postponements smacks of pure incompetence. Do what the Thais do. You get a court date and if your lawyer isn't ready - tough, if the cops aren't ready - tough, the case is heard, judged and klaar
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Jul 12, 2012

Mecury

Why whites everyrtime get lenient sentences or go scot free?
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Jul 12, 2012

guiliano

Where is the money that they stole? we know that they will get parole and go out to enjoy da money.
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Jul 12, 2012

Arewanga

Mara Amazulu...!
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Jul 12, 2012

MommaC

Mecury

???? how did you get there when there isn't any white guys in the story ????
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Jul 12, 2012

Pointman

@MommaC - Mecury has a RTFA problem.
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Jul 12, 2012

Mecury

MommaC
Mecury

???? how did you get there when there isn't any white guys in the story ????
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12 Jul 2012
Pointman
@MommaC - Mecury has a RTFA problem.
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did i say there i white guys on this storry?le ska tlo nnyela julle moerr
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