Brothers acquitted of R100m airport heist

"It is quite clear that this money could only have been taken by police officers,” the papers said.

Policeman were among those arrested for the theft.

The Institute for Security Studies in August 2006 said five people linked to the heist had died, including suspects being killed."





Brothers acquitted of R100m airport heist
November 14 2013
By Caryn Dolley



THE STAR

Cape Town lawyer Rooshdeen Rudolph File picture: Dumisani Sibeko

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Cape Town lawyer Rooshdeen Rudolph and his brother Shaheed have been acquitted of involvement in one of South Africa’s biggest armed heists, involving more than R100 million at OR Tambo International Airport almost eight years ago.

The brothers say they plan to claim R30m each in damages from the State.

Speaking from Johannesburg on Wednesday, Rudolph said: “We’re ecstatic and relieved.” But the Surrey Estate lawyer said nothing would be able to relieve him and Shaheed, a Pretoria resident, of the “pain and trauma” they had suffered.

He said it had cost them “astronomical amounts” of money to clear their names.

The Rudolph brothers were acquitted in the South Gauteng High Court on Wednesday.



THE STAR
They had been implicated in a March 25, 2006 robbery at Johannesburg International Airport (now OR Tambo International).

Bags of of money were stolen from a plane which had come from London.

Court papers relating to the consigner said: “The consignment consisted of batches of US $11 350 000.00, R1 600 000.00 and e20 000.00, as separate currencies, respectively.”

The money was meant for banks around Africa.

In another crime linked to the heist, the papers said money was recovered by police and kept in a safe at a Benoni police station, but the night before an audit in May 2006 there was a break-in at the station. About R14m was stolen.



“It is quite clear that this money could only have been taken by police officers,” the papers said.

Policeman were among those arrested for the theft.

The Institute for Security Studies in August 2006 said five people linked to the heist had died, including suspects being killed.



Court documents relating to the Rudolph brothers said 20 suspects were arrested for the heist itself.

The particulars of Rooshdeen Rudolph’s claim said he was arrested on April 29, 2006 at a Bellville police station and was told officers would drive him to Gauteng where he would be detained

and appear on criminal charges.

Shaheed Rudolph’s claim particulars said about eight armed police officers arrested him at Club Mykonos on April 26, 2006.

Both brothers’ claim particulars said the charge sheet stated they were guilty of robbery relating to the March airport heist and “did wrongfully and intentionally assault an air flight officer and with force and violence did take the following property: 11 390 US Dollars”.

The brothers were both released on R50 000 bail on July 18, 2006.

Their release was opposed as the State “alleged it had a strong case against” them.

Charges were withdrawn against the brothers on July 27, 2007 and a court document said this was because “the only evidence incriminating them available was contained in confessions of their co-accused which would have been inadmissible in evidence against them.”

The charges were reinstated in 2008.

Some accused in the case were Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) employees and some turned State witness.

An Acsa statement last year said the suspected heist mastermind, Christopher Billings, was last July sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.

On Wednesday, Roshdeen Rudolph said he believed he had been implicated because months before the heist he met Billings, an ex-client, in Johannesburg.

He said Billings told him about his money troubles and Rudolph advised him to liquidate or sell his business.

Rudolph said Billings then introduced him to other men, who also later became accused in the case.

“I didn’t think much of it at the time,” he said.

Rudolph said he had been in Johannesburg on the day of the heist to fetch personal documents.

He said the case had resulted in:

* Him spending 120 days in jail.

* More than 30 return trips between Cape Town and Johannesburg to attend court proceedings.

* His brother having to give up a bakery in Pretoria to “cough up” for legal fees.

On Wednesday, their advocate, Stephan van Rensburg, said the brothers had each faced 16 charges, including charges relating to conspiracy to commit a robbery and the possession of firearms.

“We’re thankful that after eight years of torment, it’s over,” he said.

He estimated the brothers had spent more than R1m on legal fees.

caryn.dolley@inl.co.za