Arrest of former ANC employee Present is political, says his wife
The lawyer of former Luthuli House employee Errol Velile Present, who was arrested in connection with a Dobsonville cash heist, has accused the State of having a weak case.
"The State has a weak case that is only dependent on one witness who was coerced into making the statement," defence attorney Brighton Taula told the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
This is after it was revealed to the court that witness Kenny Diratsagae, who has been identified as Present's uncle, was allegedly forced into making a statement that formed part of investigating officer Solomon Mabasa's evidence-in-chief.
Present and his four co-accused are applying for bail. They are facing charges of armed robbery, possession of a hijacked motor vehicle and attempted murder.
Members of the public in the gallery looked on as the defence ripped into Mabasa's evidence.