Judgement on the bail applications of SAPS officials implicated in an alleged vehicle syndicate will only be delivered next year
Judgement on the bail applications of SAPS officials implicated in an alleged vehicle syndicate will only be delivered next year.
Detective Sergeant Khiba Zulu, Detective Sergeant Tshepo Thae both from the Kimberley Vehicle Crime Investigations unit, along with civilians Phenyo Sekutenyane, Shepherd Ndimande and Thapelo Phandile were arrested by the Provincial SAPS Anti-Corruption unit between November 12-26.
It is alleged that the accused seized vehicles worth an estimated R2.5 million in Kimberley with the intention of selling them in the city and in the Free State,.including a Jeep Cheroke, BMW, Porsche and a Rio Kia.
Phandile, Sekutenyane and Ndimande have already been released on bail.
Legal representative for Thae advocate Thobile Komazi, advised the court this week, that the accused were on unpaid leave while in custody.
“If my client remains in detention for a prolonged period, he stands to lose his job and will not be able to afford private legal representation. My client is the sole breadwinner and is financially responsible for his wife who is ill, his parents who are pensioners and his family. He will also not be able to pay the rent and his family and children will be left without a home.”
He stated that there was no evidence that his client would intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence.
“Although he is in good health, he may suffer from opportunistic illnesses if he remains incarcerated due to the mental effects.”
Komazi pointed out that Thae had merely acted upon the instructions of Zulu.
“He only drove the Kia to the police station. Although this is his fourth bail application the state omits to tell us that one matter was removed from the court roll. The rest are pending matters and are unproven allegations.”
Legal representative for Zulu, Kenneth Juries objected to the delays in releasing his client on bail.
“Bail is an urgent matter and must be fast tracked.”
He indicated that the safety of the accused was not guaranteed at correctional services facilities where they had to be kept with accused persons, some of whom they had arrested.
“Inmates fight in prison,” Juries pointed out.
Kimberley magistrate Memory Qomoyi did not grant a request from the defence to allow the accused to be kept in the Kimberley police station holding cells.
“If there are problems they must take it up with the Department of Correctional Services and should be kept in separate cells.,” she said.
