Bloemfontein - The State has asked for a separation of trial after one of two accused in a rightwing coup plot case agreed to a plea bargain, the Bloemfontein High Court heard on Wednesday.
Mark Trollip, 48, and Johan Hendrik Prinsloo, 49, appeared in court on charges of high treason and conspiracy to commit terrorist acts.
They were allegedly involved in plans to bomb the African National Congress’s national conference in Mangaung last December.
According to the charge sheet, Trollip and Prinsloo planned to acquire weaponry such as AK-47, R1 and R4 rifles to execute the coup.
Kenny Pretorius, for Trollip, agreed to a plea and sentencing agreement.
In terms of this, Trollip pleaded guilty on the conspiracy charge and was sentenced to eight-years in prison. The state withdrew a charge of high treason.
Johann Nel, for Prinsloo, said he did not agree to the plea bargain and his trial would continue.
Prosecutor Torie Pretorius said that if found guilty of high treason the accused faced a minimum of 15 years in prison.
A date for Prinsloo’s trial would be set later in the day.
Sapa