1.
GV EXTERIOR Johannesburg Magistrate's Court.
0.03

2.
GV Some of the accused arrive at court, walk up steps. (2 SHOTS)
0.34

3.
CU Sign to Number Four courtroom.
0.37

4.
SV Shot of accused, in dock, taken through courtroom window.
0.42

5.
GV Newsmen wait outside courtroom.
0.45

6.
GV EXTERIOR Newsmen wait outside courtroom. (2 SHOTS)
0.58

7.
SV One of the accused leave court.
1.04

8.
GV Several accused climb into police van outside courthouse.
1.11

9.
SV Crowd watch as police van drives off. (2 SHOTS)
1.22




Initials JS





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In a policy switch, South Africa has decided to arrest and prosecute the 45 mercenaries who were allegedly involved in last November's abortive coup in the Seychelles and the subsequent seizure of an Air India airliner. Most of the men had initially been freed after they flew the hijacked aircraft to Durban. However, on Tuesday (5 January) forty of the men appeared in court and were remanded to a further hearing on January 18, when a trial date will be set. Five of those charged have not yet been found by the South African authorities. Seventeen of the accused appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court, where newsmen crowded around the courtroom entrance to catch a glimpse of the men. Photographs were taken through a courtroom window of the accused as they sat in the dock. After bail had been paid, a large crowd watched the men leave the court in police vans.