Phala Phala burglary: Court dismisses bid to drop charges against accused trio

The magistrate presiding over the Phala Phala burglary trial has ruled that two siblings accused alongside the suspected mastermind still have a case to answer.

Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph face charges of theft and housebreaking alongside Imanuwela David, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the 2020 robbery at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm.

The trio appeared at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo on Friday, where their Section 174 application to have the charges against them dropped was dismissed.

Magistrate Peter Manthate noted that significant questions remain regarding how accused number one, David, was able to come into large sums of money and make several expensive purchases.

ALSO READ:

Phala Phala theft trial to get underway

Inconsistency in cellphone evidence emerges during Phala Phala theft trial

Phala Phala theft: State to apply for trial within trial

Regarding Froliana and Ndilinasho, the State has advanced evidence showing that both siblings' phones "pinged" near Phala Phala on the night of the robbery.

Furthermore, investigators found a marked increase in phone communication between David and the siblings leading up to the day of the burglary.

“At this stage, there is no explanation or version by the accused as regard to such substantial communication except denial,” the Magistrate stated.

Froliana worked as a temporary cleaner at Phala Phala. However, during the trial, several managers at the game farm testified that temporary cleaners were strictly prohibited from entering the section of the farm where the stolen $580,000 in cash was kept.

The trial is set to resume on 25 May.