Durban — It will be clear next month as to when the trial against four men alleged to have kidnapped an 11-year-old boy for R1 million ransom will finally start.
This comes after the trial was on Tuesday postponed to give time to the new legal representation of the man, alleged to be the mastermind, to go through statements in preparation for the trial.
The 40-year-old man, the alleged kidnapping mastermind, has been at the centre of the delays to the trial.
The trial had been anticipated to be heard over three days from Monday, however, the accused -- who cannot be named to protect the identity of the boy -- was left in the lurch by his lawyer, allegedly over fees.
He was meant to pitch at court on Tuesday with his new attorney however he didn’t.
On resumption of the court proceedings, lawyer A Msane placed himself on record as acting for the accused, who is also the child’s neighbour.
Magistrate Mohamed Motala adjourned the matter to give Msane time to go through statements in the case and consult with his client.
He adjourned the matter provisionally to September; on that day it is expected that Msane will inform the court of his position.
The neighbour is charged along with Lindokuhle Mthokozisi Thabede, 29, Mvelo Khuzwayo, 29, and Fisokuhle Mathews Mbatha, 32.
He is the only accused out on bail while Thabede and Khuzwayo were denied bail and Mbatha abandoned his bail application.
On Monday, the court was told that Thabede and Khuzwayo wanted to lodge a bail application based on new facts.
The duo were refused bail in the district court and their matter was transferred to the regional court for trial.
Their fresh application has to be heard by the same court that refused the first bail bid.
Arrangements were being made with that specific court for the men’s application.
The accused are alleged to have kidnapped the boy at gunpoint kept him at a certain house and demanded R1 million ransom from the child’s mother.
After the child was kidnapped his mother contacted the police and a R90 000 ransom was given to the accused under surveillance by the police.
The child was kept in a certain house from the morning of that day until being rescued by police after one of the accused volunteered information about the child’s location. This had been after police intercepted the vehicle the accused had been travelling in.
The ransom money was recovered in the home of one of the accused. The neighbour was the last accused to be arrested after being linked by cellphone evidence.
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Daily News