The State has decided not to proceed with its case against businessman Etienne van der Walt, who was facing allegations linked to the theft of precious stones valued at almost R15 million during an alleged fake police raid.
The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court heard on Thursday that prosecutors withdrew the charges after Van der Walt’s legal team submitted representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Defence attorney Peter Jay welcomed the outcome, saying: “I’m glad we were successful in that aspect.”
Van der Walt had initially appeared in court alongside Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officer Adrian Mackenzie and former metro police officer Kersha-Leigh Stols.
With the charges against Van der Walt now withdrawn, Mackenzie and Stols will continue their bid for bail while facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and fraud.
The two are accused of allegedly stealing precious stones worth just under R15 million during what the State claims was a staged raid at a Killarney apartment in Johannesburg in 2023.
