Attorneys for 3 Tshwane employees accused of stealing R7m transformer ask for them to be held in police cells

JOHANNESBURG - The media has been granted access to cover the court case involving three Tshwane municipal workers.

They were arrested on Tuesday by the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit.

It’s alleged that the trio stole a R7 million transformer from the Laudium substation.

The suspects are all privately represented by three different attorneys.

Despite their requests that journalists not be allowed to film proceedings, the court ruled in favour of the media.

Before the matter could be postponed for a bail application, the legal representatives of the suspects then requested that their clients be kept at the Atteridgeville Police Station cells instead of being transferred to the Kgosi Mampuru Prison pending the outcome of their bail application.

State prosecutor Katlego Manana said: "My colleagues know the procedure that we normally follow, in that we need to get permission from the station commander to keep prisoners at the Atteridgeville Police Station cells."

The court has adjourned for a break to consider the latest application.