Rashied Staggie’s lawyer is confident that come Thursday, the case against his client and three others will be withdrawn.
The former leader of the Hard Livings appeared alongside Johannesburg businessman Jayraj Pillay, 56, his son Michaheel Mahendra Pillay, 19, and 45-year-old Joao de Gouveia in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Friday
The suspects were in court to hear the outcome of representations made to the Director of Public Prosecution with regards to the charges against them.
They were nabbed in Canal Walk’s parking lot in April this year and face charges of the possession of stolen property after 23 bottles of Johnnie Walker Green Label worth R20 000, several boxes of expensive Cuban cigars and British cigarettes were found in the three cars they were driving in.
Prosecutors said officials from the DPP informed them that a decision will only be made later this week.
Defence lawyer Cornelius Smith asked the court that accused one and two, who both reside in Johannesburg, be excused from coming to court this week.
The suspects are all out on R5000 bail each.
“If the matter is withdrawn, it can be done in absentia, or if not, they can be alerted telephonically,” Smith said.
He also insisted that should the matter not be withdrawn this week, the investigating officer and the prosecutor should explain to the court how far the investigation is.
“With regards to the docket, I have it and there is no case against the accused, I do not see why they would go ahead with prosecution,” Smith added.
Magistrate Joe Mangele postponed the matter to November 24 for outcomes of the DPP representation and excused the Pillays from attending proceedings.