Thulsie twins who were convicted on terrorism charges have been released on parole. Brandon Lee Thulsie and Tony Lee Thulsie were arrested in July 2016 after they attempted to travel twice to Syria in 2015 to join the Islamic State.
The two brothers were arrested in 2016. They were accused of conspiracy, incitement to commit the crime of terrorism, and conspiring and attempting to commit acts associated with terrorist activities after the attempted to blow us the US Embassy and Jewish institutions in South Africa on behalf of the Islamic State or Iraq (ISIS).
Their attorney, Yousha Tayob confirmed that the twins have been released from prison.
This comes after their trial was concluded in the Johannesburg High Court. The brothers had entered into a plea agreement with the state after spending six years behind bars, awaiting trial.
In February the Brandon-Lee Thulsie received an eight-year sentence while his twin brother Tony-Lee Thulsie was sentenced to 11 years. The Judge said the six years they have already spent behind bars would be taken into consideration.
Times Live reports that 12 original charges against the Thulsie twins were removed to accommodate the charges they admitted to. Their attorney said in an interview, due to the nature of the charges against the twins, parts of the plea deal will remain confidential.
At the time Daily Maverick reported that in exchange for their guilt pleas, the state withdrew other charges which include soliciting support for a terrorist organisation and financing terrorist activities.
Source: Times Live, The South African, ALGOA FM, image from Times Live: Facebook