State opposes bail for four CT cops accused of stealing R20m worth of jewellery

CAPE TOWN - The State is opposing the release on bail of four Cape Town officers accused of stealing R20 million worth of jewellery from a house in Llandudno.

Jacobus Groenewald, Bradley Minnaar, Mthuthuzeli Mafanya, and Bathandwa Soldati appeared at the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The group, attached to the police's Operation Restore, denies committing the robbery on 14 September and is asking the court to grant them bail.

Groenewald's lawyer put him on the stand during his bail application hearing on Thursday to give the group's side of the story regarding the alleged robbery.

Groenewald denies being involved in any robbery. 

He claims to have received a call from informants about two Nigerians, wanted by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) for alleged cybercrimes, hiding at a house in Llandudno.

On arrival at the house, some of the occupants fled, and the alleged wanted criminals could not be identified.

Groenewald said the informants told him and his co-accused that the Nigerian men had ties to underworld figures and also had police officers on their payroll.

The bail application continues next Tuesday.