NPA not ruling out more charges or more suspects in Joshlin Smith's disappearance
A fourth accused in the matter, Lourencia Lombaard, abandoned her bail application at the Vredenburg Magistrate's court on Monday.
Missing 6-year-old Joshlin Smith. Picture: Western Cape Missing Persons Unit/Supplied.
CAPE TOWN - More charges and more suspects, could be added to the case against four accused charged with the kidnapping and human trafficking of six-year-old Joshlin Smith.
That's according to the National Prosecuting Authority, saying that the investigation into Joshlin's disappearance has reached a sensitive stage.
A fourth accused in the matter, Lourencia Lombaard, abandoned her bail application at the Vredenburg Magistrate's court on Monday.
Lombaard will now join Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquin Appollis and Steveno Van Rhyn when they appear in court again on 13 May.
The four have been implicated in the disappearance of Joshlin, who went missing from her Middelopos home over a month ago and has still not been found.
NPA Spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said, "anything can happen depending on the outcome of the investigation. We may expect more charges or even more accused if the investigation results show there's more people involved and there's more evidence that has been collected leading to more charges."
Ntabazalila said forensic results of blood-stained items found during the search for Joshlin were recently given to the investigation team.
He said the investigation and search for Joshlin continues.