Brown Mogotsi, who was arrested on 15 May, appeared in court on Thursday (4/6), where the magistrate ruled he had failed to provide a verifiable residential address, a key requirement for bail.

The matter was postponed to next Friday (12/6) to allow Mogotsi’s legal team to obtain copies of the docket and make arrangements for a trial date.

In delivering the ruling, the magistrate stated the accused had provided three different addresses, none of which could be confirmed as his place of residence. “The court cannot accept the applicant's version that it is an error by the landlord to write a wrong address, house number 4454, in the lease agreement.

“The applicant failed to call his landlord, Mr Mosia Kgosi, to confirm that indeed they have a lease agreement. Therefore, the court found that there is no proper address for the applicant, and it will be difficult for the state to trace him.”

Mogotsi may likely evade trial, she added. “Therefore, the interest of justice does not permit his release, as there is no proper address. Bail is denied.”

The issue of Mogotsi’s residential address in Mahikeng, North West, became central to the bail proceedings. The case was heard twice last week after it was postponed to allow authorities to verify the address.

He faces five charges, including perjury, defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, and allegedly attempting to bribe an investigating officer.

The charges stem from allegations that Mogotsi staged an assassination attempt on himself in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, in November.

During arguments before the court, it also emerged that ballistic reports allegedly link the firearm used in the purported shooting incident to other serious crimes, including murder. However, the firearm has not been recovered.

Mogotsi is expected to remain in custody until his next court appearance.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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