Taxi acid attack accused says court dragging its feet

THE man who is accused of attacking a meter taxi driver with acid is not impressed with how the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court is handling his case.

Dirk du Plessis appeared at the court yesterday hoping to submit a bail application but his matter was postponed again as the court indicated that it needed more time to verify his profile before he could file for bail.

He is being held at the Krugersdorp prison and appeared at the court via the audio-visual remand system.

He has been in custody since his arrest on August 15.

Du Plessis said he has been kept behind bars for close to a month and it was his legal right to apply for bail within seven days of the arrest.

“I have been in custody for over a month, your worship. I am asking the state to have time to confirm my profile and address which I know I gave a bit late, but there has been enough time period where this could have been done and it has not happened‚” Du Plessis said.

“Your worship, it is my submission that the state is dragging its feet in the matter. I do have a right for a bail application and I ask the court to consider my submission‚” he said.

Magistrate Delise Smith noted Du Plessis’s submission and postponed the matter to September 18.

He was appearing in court for the fourth time since he was arrested in Florida.

He is charged with attempted murder and robbery.

The 34-year-old was being transported from Braamfontein to Florida on the day of the attack.

The motive for the attack is not yet known.

The accused previously gave the court a Johannesburg address.