Du Toit phones planted - claim

2007-10-29 21:01

Cape Town - Two cellphones linking National Intelligence Agency informant Phillip du Toit to a hijacking in September this year were planted by police, the Bellville Magistrate's Court heard on Monday.

The SABC reported the claim was made by attorney Luvuyo Godla, arguing in Du Toit's bail application.

Godla told the court two police witnesses had failed to convince the court that the cellphones belonged to the driver and a passenger of a truck, hijacked at Parow Park in September.

Du Toit faces charges of armed robbery, the possession of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Earlier, the court heard that Niel van Heerden, owner of a franchise of private investigators George Fivaz and Associates, paid Du Toit's R250 000 bail when he was arrested on a perlemoen charge earlier this year.

Inspector Cornelius Engelbrecht of the police's organised crime unit said Du Toit had the potential to be involved in crime while out on bail.

Du Toit has been named as one of the figures at the centre of Cape Town city's "spy row".

He was tasked by the city to investigate claims that controversial councillor Bhadi Chaaban had sought to bribe other councillors to cross the floor.

- SAPA