This is according to Magistrate Marlene Marais, who denied bail for the policemen, both aged 40 years, and 37-year-old businessman Stanley Bakili this morning after months of delayed bail proceedings. The police officials, Bayswater Detective Molebatsi Mogoera and Court Orderly Kagiso Chabane, will now join Bakili in custody at the Grootvlei Prison outside the Free State capital as per prosecutor Johan de Nysschen’s request. They were previously detained at Bains Vlei prison for their safety.

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 Mogoera and Chabane, adding that no concessions or exceptions will be made for them. The magistrate mentioned earlier bail proceedings when Bakili appeared in chains but the policemen did not, she maintained that the policemen will no longer be shown any favouritism and would have to be placed under the same conditions as their co-accused. It comes after it was revealed in court on Friday, January 29, that Bakili – accused number one - feels victimised in Grootvlei and requested that he be moved to a different correctional facility altogether. It has been alleged that the businessman attempted to have a large sum of money smuggled to him in prison. Marais advised the businessman’s legal counsel, Izak Nel, to lodge a formal application with another Magistrate on the matter following today’s judgment on bail.

It was alleged in court on Friday that Mogoera and Chabane have been found guilty by the South African Police Services’ disciplinary committee and are going to be dismissed as police officers. This has not yet been confirmed by the SAPS provincial office, but OFM News was reliably informed that until the Provincial Commissioner signs off on the paperwork, the police officers remain SAPS members.

OFM News