A popular radio and club DJ and his wife, who were arrested after cops found millions of rands worth of drugs at their Cape Town home, have been released on bail.
DJ Dino Michael, 49 worked at Good Hope FM for nine years until his contract expired two weeks ago, and the station did not renew it.
Michael and his wife, Janine Michael, 39, walked out of the Cape Town Magistrate's Court holding cells looking tired and stressed out.
Standing in the dock, Michael, dressed in a thick brown jacket, repeatedly wiped sweat from his forehead, while Janine appeared nervous, her hair tied in a neat bun.
ARREST: Hawks raided couple’s Tamboerskloof home. Picture: David Ritchie/African News Agency/ANA
The couple were represented by Advocate Pete Mihalik.
Their mood soon changed, however, and they breathed a sigh of relief when prosecutor Adiel Jansen informed the court the State would not be opposing bail.
Michael was granted R50 000 bail, and Janine was released on R10 000.
Jansen told the court the two were arrested after drugs worth millions, as well as cash, were found at their home in Hastings Street, Tamboerskloof, on Tuesday.
“I can confirm that the accused are facing a charge of the possession of drugs,” he said.
“This is cocaine and MDMA (the main ingredient in ecstasy) which has a street value of R2.6 million. The accused were also found in possession of R293 000.”
He added that neither had previous cases or any outstanding warrants and stated that the terms of their bail would be that they did not leave the Western Cape.
Their passports were confiscated after the Directorate of Priority Crime (the Hawks) made the arrests on Tuesday.
The couple’s affidavits were read before court, revealing they have been married for 12 years and have a 12-year-old son.
Michael has been deejaying since 1988 and was previously employed at Good Hope FM, where he was known as The Godfather.
He also previously owned a vinyl record shop, Syndicate Records, in the CBD.
The court document stated that Michael worked at Good Hope FM for nine years where he earned R8 000 per month.
He was also a resident DJ at a restaurant in Cape Town, where he earned R20 000 per month.
The court heard that Michael was not a healthy man, and had suffered two heart attacks. He had chronic asthma and stomach ailments and needed to be on medication.
SUSPECT 2: Wife Janine Michael, 39, outside court. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency/ANA
Janine is a self-employed bookkeeper.
The couple travelled to Bali two weeks ago for a family holiday and said they relied on one another financially.
The matter was postponed to 12 July for the forensic report on the drugs.
Outside court, the couple’s instructing attorney, Leon van der Westhuizen, said they were “innocent until proven guilty” and would now try to rebuild their lives.