Case against 5 suspects arrested in Russian military recruitment case postponed

The case against five suspects accused of luring South Africans to fight in the Russia–Ukraine war has been postponed to next Monday.

The group was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport over the weekend, just moments before they were due to board a flight to Russia.

Among those arrested is senior SAFM broadcaster Nonkululeko Mantula, who is alleged to have played a central role in recruiting the men to work as mercenaries for Russia.

The five face charges under the Foreign Military Assistance Act.

State prosecutor Pieter Erasmus said the group will remain in custody until their formal bail application next week.

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