Three men accused of staging the heist at South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport in March were granted bail by a court on Monday.
Sibusiso Mnisi, Prince Dube and Thando Sonqishe are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances for their alleged involvement in what is considered one of South Africa’s biggest heists.
Magistrate Amukelani Msimeki who granted the three bail however set strict conditions for them, including reporting to Kempton Park and Midrand police stations on certain days of the week as well as not being allowed to leave the Gauteng province without permission from the investigating officer.
More than $15 million was stolen in the heist that was conducted by men disguised as police officers.
According to various analysis of the heist, the thieves had inside information, because they went for particular boxes and knew how to get in and out of the airport without being caught.
The money was in numerous foreign currencies. It was being stored at the cargo section of the airport where high value and high risk cargo such as cash is stored.
The magistrate defended her decision to grant the three suspects bail, saying the possibility of the cases dragging on for a long period necessitated it.
“The likelihood of investigations taking a long time to finalize and for further evidence to be brought against the accused‚ if any‚ to link them to the crime‚ is in itself an exceptional circumstance‚” she said.
