Boeremag: Cops beef up security
2006-05-15 14:29
Pretoria - Police announced new and stringent security measures at the resumption of the Boeremag treason trial on Monday, after a two-week postponement following the escape of two of the accused.
Senior Superintendent Louis Bester, who is part of the police security team at court, told the remaining twenty accused, their legal representatives and those attending the case that no communication devices would be allowed in court.
No cellphone calls would be allowed from inside the Pretoria High Court. The accused would not be allowed to make any calls including from the public phones just outside the courtroom. Laptops inside the court with 3G cards, internet and e-mail may also not be used. People entering the courtroom would be searched.
The remaining accused have been moved to a new holding cells under the court.
"We have withdrawn some extraordinary privileges afforded to the accused," Director Sally de Beer told reporters outside the court.
This follows the escape of Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws, two of the accused in the case, almost two weeks ago.
- SAPA