No bail for alleged drug dealer

Berlin suspect has national network he says, court told

BERLIN drug-trafficking accused Simphiwe “Chizama” Qwememe, who was arrested after R300 000 worth of Mandrax tablets were seized at a Rocklands Farm, told court yesterday at his bail application that he buys fertiliser tablets and sells them to other farmers. Qwememe’s statement was read in court by Magistrate Nolundi Mkwali who remarked that it was not clear whether Qwememe was trying to explain the tablets seized by the Hawks on January 25.

Mkwali’s remark sparked few giggles from court officials, including Hawks investigating officer Raymond Buys who arrested Qwememe. Qwememe is accused of being a mastermind behind a drug trafficking network that has links provincially – and nationally. He is one of 13 men who were arrested nationwide during a massive drug cartel bust that also saw four other Eastern Cape men being arrested.

Yesterday, Mkwali denied Qwememe bail. She upheld the state’s submission that Qwememe was a possible flight risk and a danger to society. In her remarks, Mkwali said the evidence produced by the state showed that Qwememe visited Lesotho on several occasions.

“It is not clear why the applicant visited Lesotho so often.”

Mkwali ruled: “The applicant failed to produce evidence that he was innocent and also based on the gravity and nature of the crime and taking into consideration the unexplained trips to Lesotho, bail is denied”.

Mkwali remanded Qwememe in custody until his appearance in Mdantsane A court to face four counts of dealing in drugs.

The case was postponed for further investigation, and for state prosecutor Elna Smit to get an “outstanding forensic report” which is expected in a month.

Giving evidence , Buys said it was likely that if he was released, Qwememe would continue selling drugs to society. Buys said it was in the court’s interest to keep Qwememe locked inside to make it difficult for him to run his business. “The denial of bail would take one drug dealer off the streets and send a message to other dealers,” said Buys.

Qwememe’s advocate JD Pretorius charged: “So you want to punish him?” Buys responded that it was the duty of the court to punish offenders with a judgment once found guilty, not him. Pretorius, from Soweto-based VM Mashele attorneys, asked Buys to explain how he was perceiving his client as a hardcore drug-lord yet Qwememe had no criminal record, no previous conviction nor pending case. Buys responded: “He might have been very lucky or covered his tracks very well. We still maintain that evidence shows that he is not a once-off dealer but runs a well-established drug trafficking business”.

Buys said that in his 25 years’ of experience, men like Qwememe never stopped dealing in drugs. Pretorius also argued that the state had no evidence suggesting that Qwememe, a first-time offender, would evade his trial.

Pretorius also pointed out that Qwememe’s passport had expired.

Buys said in the drug underworld it was easy get a fake passport.

Buys said Qwememe was arrested after he sold large quantities of drugs to undercover Hawks officials on three occasions at the gates of his Rocklands Farm. Smit emphasised in her closing argument that the state collected six months’ evidence on Qwememe.

“He sold 1 000 tablets twice to two policemen in September and once in October before he was caught with the lots of drugs in January. The state has a strong case,” said Smit. —