N1 highway assault: Accused can afford R1000 bail, court hears
Eight officers who have been suspended from the police’s VIP Presidential Protection Services appeared for a second time in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, where they applied for bail.
They were arrested after handing themselves over to authorities at the Sandton police station on Sunday, following an Independent Investigative Police Directorate (IPID) linking them to the N1 highway assault that was captured on camera.
Shadrack Kojoana, Johannes Mampuru, Joseph Mofokeng, Harmans Ramokhonami, Phineas Boshielo, Churchill Mkhize, Aggrie Rambau, and Moses Tshidada disclosed their earnings, assets and financial obligations in their bid for bail.
The officers, who earn between R10 000 and R29 000 a month, have been suspended with full pay.
On Monday, Kojoana told the court he could afford R2000 bail, while his co-accused said they could only afford R1000.
The defence lawyer for accused five to eight (Phineas Boshielo, Churchill Mkhize, Lesibana Rambau, and Moses Tshidada), Fanie Kabini, read out their affidavits in court in which the accused all said they stand to suffer financial loss should they not get bail.
“I am expected to defend myself at the said internal disciplinary hearing so as to ensure that I remain employed, and if I am kept in detention, I stand to be deprived an opportunity to prepare for the hearing, which will result in poor representation at the said hearing and subsequent dismissal from employment.”
The accused told the court they believe their release on bail would be in the interest of justice and that, for reasons listed in their affidavit, including that they face charges relating to schedule one offence, they have cooperated with authorities and deny any knowledge of the alleged threats against the state’s witnesses, they are suitable candidates for bail.
