Ex-cop’s bail case deferred

The bail application of former crime intelligence officer Morris Tshabalala, known as Captain KGB, was postponed in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria yesterday because his counsel, Advocate Annelene van den Heever, could not make it to court.

Tshabalala’s lawyer, Mpesi Makhanya, told presiding Magistrate Nicca Setshogoe that due to the harsh weather conditions in Gauteng, Captain KGB’s counsel had to deal with an unforeseen emergency.

Setshogoe postponed the matter to March 28, provisionally.

Tshabalala made his apperance in chains and was accompanied by several armed correctional services officers.

Earlier this month, Van den Heever complained that Tshabalala was being treated “like an animal” and being denied his right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Van den Heever protested as soon as Tshabalala, in leg irons and shackles, was escorted into the courtroom by a heavy contingent of armed police officers and correctional services guards.

“Allow me to interrupt my learned colleague [state prosecutor] and request that the shackles be removed from my client. I do not know why he is in shackles and accompanied by armed people in court,” said Van den Heever at the time.

Setshogoe then ordered that Tshabalala be unshackled immediately.

Van den Heever also took issue with the presence of the numerous armed police officers.

Tshabalala faces charges of fraud, theft and corruption. He is seeking bail for a second time, based on “new facts”. – ANA