By: Pamella Majola
The extortion case against taxi tycoon Joe Sibanyoni and his three co-accused has been struck off the roll at the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga.
Defence lawyers, including former National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams, argued that the State had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the charges against the accused.
The four men had been accused of allegedly extorting R2.2 million from a Mpumalanga mining businessman in a high-profile case that has drawn significant public attention.
Proceedings took a dramatic turn when the State prosecutor failed to appear in court. Following the prosecutor’s absence, Magistrate Johannes Erasmus ruled that the conduct amounted to contempt of court and subsequently issued a warrant for the prosecutor’s arrest.
With the matter struck off the roll, Sibanyoni and the three co-accused were released. However, the State may choose to reinstate the matter should further investigations or evidence emerge.
