Bail for Dramat and two Hawks officers

FORMER Hawks boss Anwa Dramat and two other suspended senior officers of the police’s specialised crime fighting unit have been granted bail of R5 000 each in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

Dramat, with suspended Gauteng Hawks boss Major General Shadrack Sibiya and Captain Lesley Maluleke, appeared yesterday in connection with alleged involvement in the rendition of four Zimbabweans in 2010. The accused are facing seven charges, including four of kidnapping, two of defeating the ends of justice and one of contravening the Immigration Act.

The matter, which is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), was postponed to May 6.

During yesterday’s bail application, the prosecution read out the investigating officer’s affidavit confirming a rendition case against the three had been investigated and they were ready to proceed.

The State told the court it would not oppose bail as the men’s residential addresses had been verified.

Legal representatives Michael Twala, advocate Naume Makana and Johnny Nortje, representing Maluleke, Sibiya and Dramat respectively, told the court their clients were willing to pay bail and hand their travel documents to the court.

Prosecutor George Baloyi said the State did not deem it necessary for the accused to surrender their passports because there were no fears they would attempt to evade trial.

National Prosecuting Authority ( NPA) spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said the State did not oppose bail because the accused had permanent addresses in the country and were South African citizens with little intention of absconding. Mfaku then hit out at allegations the prosecution was politically motivated, saying there had been no political interference in the timing and decision to prosecute.

He said it had “become fashionable for people to invoke some wild conspiracy theories when they are to appear in court”.

“They must just come to court and present whatever evidence at their disposal that they are innocent,” said Mfaku.

Victor Nkhwashu, speaking on behalf of the legal representatives of the accused, told journalists outside the court the defence was glad the case was now on the court roll, so their clients would be able to prove their innocence.

It is alleged that in November 2010 and January 2011 the trio participated in the arrest of seven Zimbabwean immigrants and subsequently unlawfully surrendered four of the fugitives to the Zimbabwean police for arrest. The four were reportedly suspects in the murder of a Zimbabwean police superintendent. – ANA

TRIAL: Anwa Dramat.