Magistrate Marlene Marais says in her judgment that the defence in the matter has failed to show exceptional circumstances that support the accused’s release on bail. Marais maintained that it is, in fact, in the interest of justice that the accused, 37-year old businessman Stanley Bakili; 40-year old Bayswater Detective Molebatsi Mogoera; and 40-year old Court orderly Kagiso Chabane, be denied bail because the evidence provided by the state proves that all three men could attempt to tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses. The three men are each facing charges that include murder, conspiracy to commit murder and extortion. 

Siemens - the Managing Director of day hospital CityMed - was gunned down in the basement parking area of Preller Square shopping complex on Thursday 10 May 2018. The matter has been remanded to May 11. From there onwards, the matter will be transferred to the Free State High Court for trial.

The family members of the accused, specifically Chabane’s mother and brother, were inconsolable after Marais delivered her judgment. His mother cried and was held by family members in an effort to calm her down. The accused themselves appeared disappointed with the judgment and were seen shaking their heads several times as Marais read parts of her judgment. 

The police officers, who were previously being detained at Bain’s Vlei, will now join Bakili in Grootvlei as trial awaiting detainees as per prosecutor Johan de Nysschen’s request. This did not go down well with the police officers who felt that their lives would be at risk in Grootvlei. Marais dismissed the defence’s concern regarding the policemen’s safety adding that no concessions or exceptions will be made for Mogoera and Chabane.

Alleged repeat offender and accused number five in the case, 29-year-old Mojalefa Jali Molusi, who was arrested in Phase 2 on Wednesday, January 9, is set to appear in the same courthouse tomorrow, January 30. Molusi has been placed at the murder scene by authorities on the day that Siemens was murdered in the basement parking area of Preller Square in broad daylight.

OFM News/Sazly Hartzenberg and Olebogeng Motse