By Umamah Bakharia

Yesterday, the Thulsie twins pleaded guilty to terrorism charges after awaiting a six-year trial. One of the brothers, Tony-Lee Thulsie also pleaded guilty to conspiring to conduct terror attacks against local Jewish interests and foreign embassies in South Africa.

One of the lawyers assembled to fight the case, Attorney Yousha Tayob spoke to Radio Islam post conviction on the case proceedings.

Attorney Tayob says this decision for the Thulsie twins to plead guilty came after consultation with their lawyers based on the undercover operation evidence that was found by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had that would have been revealed in trial if the boys did not confess.

The brothers entered into a section 105 plea and sentence agreement with the state as Tony-Lee Thulsie was sentenced to 11 years in prison and his brother Brandon-Lee received an 8 year prison sentence. They have already been in jail awaiting trial since July 2016, therefore, Tony-Lee will effectively serve five years and Brandon-Lee two.

According to Attorney Tayob, the boys were young, naïve and felt hurt by the oppressions of the Muslim community and wanted to react. However, they believe they were not well educated on the religion at that time.

“The fact that the state relented one thing excessive sentences as well was certainly a factor that guided us into doing these deals and also the boys were clear in whatever communication they had with whoever whether it was a trap or not, they were very certain that they did not want to breach [their creators] laws and they did not want to lie and put twists [on the story],” says Attorney Tayob.

The Thulsie twins were looking at a very lengthy and costly trial if they did not confess when offered the plea deal.

Attorney Tayob says that unfortunately the selective application of this legislation of this application or and other international instruments is very saddening.

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