The Citizen reports that the State on Tuesday failed to convince the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court that the 14 Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) guards, arrested for allegedly trying to rob the agency’s headquarters in the city, should be denied bail.  

Magistrate Mali Mokoena disagreed with state prosecutor Tshomela Lizo that the members of the agency’s “business intelligence unit” were a flight risk and had intimidated witnesses.  Lizo argued the group was a threat to witnesses and that threats had been made in court.  But the magistrate said there was no proof that the accused had made the threats.  She released the suspects on R2,000 bail each and ordered that they don’t interfere with, or have any contact with witnesses.  The group was arrested after they allegedly pointed firearms at guards, tied them up and demanded keys to the agency’s parked fleet.

• Read the short original report by Sipho Mabena at The Citizen

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