The Barberton Magistrate’s Court is expected to be a hive of activity tomorrow, Thursday, February 25, when the two men who failed to declare millions in cash will appear in court.
Media houses from both Mozambique and South Africa are expected to descend on the local court where Faizal Assane (50) and Ahmed Abdulla (38) will appear.
The case of the two men, believed to be Mozambican nationals, has drawn much public interest following the mysterious discovery of a lump sum of hard cash, estimated to be around R76 million, in their possession on December 25.
According to the police, the money that was confiscated comprised various currencies – US$ 4,9 million, €2, 2 million and R20 000. It apparently took police five hours to count it.
The bust has been described as the largest money seizure in South African history.
The two were arrested on Christmas Day, December 25, 2015 during a joint operation led by the SAPS and SARS at the Lebombo Border Post. They were trying to smuggle the money into the country and were on their way to Johannesburg with the cash. According to police, it would have escaped detection had it not been for an anonymous tip-off to the South African police.
Both Assane and Abdulla are currently out on bail, which were granted on Monday, January 18 by magistrate Meriam Mabetwa, subject to strict conditions. Assane was granted bail of R150 000 while Abdulla received bail of R25 000.
Their bail conditions included, among others, restriction to stay at an address in Boksburg enlisted on their affidavits as one of Assane’s properties, to surrender their passports and all their travel documents to the investigation officer, reporting at the Boksburg Police Station twice a week, and to remain in the country until the finalisation of the case.
They have acquired the services of a strong defence team. They include defence advocate Pieter Naude, defence attorney Mandla Mamba and defence attorney Vusi Mboweni.
The defence hope to rap the case up soon as they indicated during their last appearance that Assane’s life was dependent on the money that is currently in the state’s possession.
