By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Anwar Khan, a former bodyguard to the slain rapper, Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, has been granted bail in the amount of R200 000 in the Dimbaza Magistrate’s Court.
But Magistrate Nkosinathi Mjekula denied bail to Khan’s co-accused Terrence Joubert.
The two are among the 15 people who were arrested over the Easter weekend in connection with a University of Fort Hare fraud and corruption case.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Joubert was denied bail because the court felt that there is a probability that he would interfere with witnesses and the investigation.
Tyali explained that the court agreed with the prosecution and found that there was a high probability that he may interfere with investigations in that he refused to grant the investigating officer access to one of his two cellphones.
“The court also noted that he attempted to mislead the court when he claimed that he had voluntarily left the NPA, while he had been dismissed,” Tyali added.
The NPA said one of the accused, Isaac Plaatjies, has since abandoned bail, and should he decide to still apply for bail, the state will oppose his application.
The other co-accused, Sarga Burger, Gosain van der Haar, Anna Smith, Paul Tladi, Lucrecia Davids, Mbulelo Gingcana, Nkateko Mawila, Nozuko Mabombo, Thamsanqa Sonjica, Craig Retief, Bradley Conradie, Justin King and Nthabiseng Makhoba have been each released on R50,000 bail, and have to report to their respective closest police stations every Wednesday and surrender their passports.
The 21, nine of whom were UFH employees, and the rest being service providers and their companies, are accused of having colluded in giving each other tender contracts at the university in return for gratifications.
The total amount of funds paid by UFH to the service providers is more than R172 million, with the bulk of it allegedly finding its way to the pockets of the accused university employees. The conclusion of these tenders was preceded by violent acts at UFH.
Plaajties is charged in a separate matter, with nine people for the murder of University of Fort Hare (UFH) fleet manager, Petrus Roets, and the university’s Vice-chancellor’s (VC) bodyguard, Richard Vesele, attempted murder of VC, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu and Deputy VC, Renuka Vithal, as well as corruption are due in Bhisho High Court on 08 October 2024.
All of them but one charged in this case remain in custody after they were denied bail.
The accused in the corruption case, along with five business entities, namely, EL Reign PTY Ltd, Tarlec Security Solutions CC, BCHC Incorporated, Horizon Forensics PTY Ltd and Pentagon Group PTY Ltd, will be back in court on 09 May 2024.