Outrageous article from the Pretoria News. Lets not all panic yet, this was just a bail hearing with a substitute prosecutor (which I cannot believe in the first place, but nevertheless ...) This does not impact the trial. Just sick that these assholes got bail in the first place. NOT the judges fault as the prosecutor has to present reasons why he shouldnt grant bail and the prosecutor did not have all the facts of this case (again, let me say it for everyone in the group ... shake my head in awe at the sheer stupidity!) Pretoria - Three members of the alleged biggest rhino poaching syndicate in South Africa were granted bail at the High Court sitting in Pretoria on Monday. The group of 10, who were initially denied bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, included the alleged kingpin, Hugo Ras, Warrant Officer Willie Oosthuizen (of the Hawks), attorney Joseph Wilkinson, Matthys Scheepers, Mandla Magagula, Abraham Smit, Ras’s wife Trudie, Anton Ras, pilot Bonnie Steyn and Willem van Jaarsveld. Trudie, Steyn and Van Jaarsveld succeeded in their appeal for bail as granted by Judge Winston Msimeki as he highlighted that there was no evidence that the applicants would evade court proceedings or flee. The legal representative for Ras, advocate Jack Gerber, said Judge Msimeki gave a fair verdict considering that it was only right that the accused be given bail until it was proven otherwise. The State prosecutor argued that there was worldwide public interest for the accused to remain in custody and that they possibly had access to large sums of money in foreign accounts. The State prosecutor also urged Judge Msimeki not to consider the cases of Wilkinson, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court of Appeal, or those of Oosthuizen and Magagula, who were each granted bail on December 24 in the Pretoria Magistrate’s court. In his decision to grant bail, the judge said there had been no indication that the accused would intimidate witnesses, tamper with evidence, flee or evade trial. “We cannot exclude the other instances where the other accused were granted bail entirely,” he said. Attorney Anton Smith, representing Van Jaarsveld, said he was pleased with the outcome of their appeal as they felt the magistrate had erred in denying them bail and the information given to the magistrate had misled him. Allison Thompson representing the Outraged South African Citizens Against Rhino Poaching organisation, which picketed outside court before proceedings began, said they were disappointed with the National Prosecuting Authority for dropping the ball in this case. “Everyone who was initially involved should have been here as they know what’s going on. “The substitute prosecutor didn’t know fully what the merits of the case were,” said Thompson. “Letting these people out sends out the wrong message to people that they can continue doing as they please here. “If prosecutors don’t do their jobs there is not much we can do about it really and that is so frustrating.” Meanwhile, family members of Steyn and Trudie gave a sigh of relief and huddled together in brief prayer shortly after Judge Msimeki granted their loved ones bail. Both families refused to speak to the media and wanted to be left alone. Pretoria News
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 11:47:40 +0000
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