On Thursday (10/7), the bail of the accused police officer, Sgt. Nzima Adoons, was set at R2,000, with specific conditions:

• he may not interfere with investigations;
• he may not intimidate state witnesses, directly or indirectly; and
• he must report to his nearest police station twice a week – on Fridays and Sundays.

The kidnapping case of the 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi was postponed to 3 September for further investigations.

The state prosecutor, Zipho Mpohlekana, presented his closing arguments and reasons for why he believes the state should oppose bail for Adoons.

‘Linked to the case by the tracker of the vehicle’

One of the reasons was that Adoons is linked to the case by the tracker of the vehicle he drove on the day that Kamogelo Baukudi was kidnapped. The vehicle tracker puts him at the exact location where Kamogelo was last seen.

Another reason is that if Adoons is granted bail, there is a possibility that he will interfere with the victims, the investigation, and witnesses, as he will be back at work once he is out of custody.

It was also mentioned in court that Adoons knows one of the witnesses, so the probability of his interfering is high, and the fact that his colleagues are also witnesses might pose a problem.

But Magistrate Mcilongo did not find any evidence that presented that Adoons was a flight risk, and that he would interfere with the investigations of the case.
She granted him bail of R2,000 with strict conditions.

On Thursday (3/7), Investigating Officer Lt Col Kelaotswe Lebodi testified in court and gave reasons why he opposes bail for Adoons.  Lebodi revealed in court that Adoons is not on suspension; he was only on suspension because of being in custody. Once he is granted bail, he can go back to work.

Lebodi further said in his reasons why he shouldn’t be granted bail is that Adoons is a police officer, and he has tarnished the reputation of the police with his actions, and he brought up that kidnapping is a serious crime, which is a problem in the country.

Adoons’ attorney, Adriaan Janse van Rensburg, was satisfied that “the magistrate acted in the interest of justice”.

OFM News cg