Magudumana's bail application denied
Dr Nandipha Magudumana is to remain in custody after her bail application was denied.
Magudumana appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on Monday morning for her bail outcome.
She is accused of helping convicted rapist and killer Thabo Bester escape from the G4s-run Mangaung Correctional facility in May 2022.
The couple was arrested in Arusha, Tanzania in April, where authorities suspected that the couple was headed for the border between Tanzania and Kenya.
In her ruling, Magistrate Estelle de Lange said Magudumana had failed to prove to the court that the interest of justice warrants her release on bail.
"I am of the opinion bail conditions will not be enough to make her stand her trial. She will have more means to help Bester to escape. If she is released she could facilitate another escape if she wants too."
"The interests of justice don't permit one's release if one of these grounds is established, likelihood that their release will endanger society, whether they will evade their trial, whether they will intimidate witnesses, or they will undermine functioning of criminal justice system, or whether their release will disturb public order."
De Lange added that no bail condition would guarantee that Magudumana will stand trial as she was previously able to leave South Africa and cross three borders without a passport.
"When she left, she knew she wouldn't come back. The evidence points that she left the country voluntarily. I find she is definitely a flight risk, and there are no bail conditions to limit this risk. She didn't satisfy the court that she should be released. Therefore, the bail application is denied."
Magudumana is expected to return to court on the 11 of October with 11 other accused in the matter.
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