Two cleared of pillaging ships

AFTER one man became the first person in South Africa to be convicted of the illegal pillaging of shipwrecks when he pleaded guilty to the charges last week, his two co-accused were acquitted.

The Humansdorp Regional Court found Alan Withers and Jimmy Uys not guilty on all counts after the defence brought an application for their early discharge at the close of the state's case on Friday.

Advocate Terry Price and attorney Alwyn Griebenow argued that there was insufficient evidence to link their clients to the charges.

Paul du Rand, 53, of Victoria Park, pleaded guilty to infringements under the National Heritage Resources Act on Monday last week before testifying against his co-accused.