on air now
NOW PLAYING
Kea Zawadi
up next
Up Next
Queenie Grootboom
on air now
NOW PLAYING
Kea Zawadi
up next
Up Next
Queenie Grootboom
 

Thulsie twins granted parole

The Thulsie twins prior to their arrest in 2016

Facebook


Twin brothers Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie have been released on parole.

The convicted terrorists were arrested in 2016 and only convicted in February this year after reaching a plea deal with the State.

A spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Singabakho Nxumalo says the twins were sentenced to 11 years in prison but the time they have been in custody is considered as time served.

He says the twins' parole was granted in terms of Section 73 of the Correctional Services Act.

The twins were arrested in 2016 in a multi-disciplinary operation on the West Rand on allegations of planning attacks on the US Embassy, the UK High Commission and Jewish institutions within South Africa.

Police at the time said both accused attempted to leave South Africa to join the jihadist terrorist group, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The investigation also revealed that the twins conspired with a man known as Abu Harb to perform terrorist acts in South Africa.

Both accused were sentenced to five years imprisonment for attempting to leave South Africa to join ISIL in Syria.

Tony-Lee was further sentenced to six years imprisonment for conspiring with Abu Harb whereas Brandon-Lee was also sentenced to three years imprisonment for possession of a document connected to terrorist activities, the Mujahid guide.