The Thulsie twins – Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee – accused of plotting terror attacks on Jewish and American interests in South Africa on Tuesday abandoned their bail applications in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
Lawyer for the accused, Annelene van den Heer, told the court that her clients who have been in jail since their arrest on 9 July 2016, have abandoned their bail application.
Prosecutor, Chris MacAdam then asked the court for an eight week postponement, saying the state was in the process of requesting evidence against the accused from foreign countries.
Police arrested the 23-year-old twins on July 9, after they searched their home and found documents that they said incriminated them in terror plots and planning to join the terror group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Both accused deny the charges and contend police officers who arrested them at their Newclare home in Johannesburg acted unlawfully because they only had a search warrant. Although police concede they did not have an arrest warrant, they insist they acted lawfully.
In August, the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court declared the arrest of the Thulsie twins was lawfully executed by the police.
However, Van den Heever told the court she would seek a high court review. That matter failed and as result the bail application was reinstated. But on Tuesday the accused decided to abandon their bail applications.
Magistrate Pieter du Plessis told prosecutor MacAdam, who has earlier requested an eight week postponement, that he could only afford him three weeks. The matter will now be heard on 4 November.
Outside the court there was a few people declared their support for the twins. They demanded their immediate release. Others were in tears and were seen being comforted.
The twins have been charged with conspiracy and incitement to commit the crime of terrorism and conspiring and attempting to commit acts associated with terrorist activities.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
