By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A former G4S employee Thabang Matthews Mier implicated in the prison escape of murder and rape convict Thabo Bester was granted bail.
Mier, Joel Lekhari Makhetha and Moeketsi April Ramolula were back in court on Monday, after a brief appearance last week Wednesday.
They are accused of aiding notorious Bester in his escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year.
Joel Makhetha and Moeketsi Ramolulawere denied bail.
“Accused number 11 and accused number 12, you will remain in custody until the 11th of July, bail is denied,” said Magistrate Estelle de Lange.
Applicant number 10, Mier, was granted R10 000 bail.
“Accused number 10, you are in custody; bail is sent at an amount of R10 000 on the following conditions that you are ordered upon payment of bail money to report yourself on Wednesdays to the Kopanong Police Station between the hours of eight o’clock in the morning and at four o’clock in the afternoon,” De Lange said in her ruling.
“You are further ordered not to directly or indirectly have contact with the state witnesses, you are ordered not to leave Bloemfontein without informing the investigating officers of this case, you are warned to appear before this court at half past eight in the morning and to remain in attendance should bail be paid.
“Failure to appear a warrant of arrest will be issued, your bail will be provisionally cancelled, and your bail money will be forfeited to the state.”
This brings to three the total number of accused granted bail.
Bester and his accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana are also expected to appear in court on 8 August following their postponement for further police investigations alongside their co-accused.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of SABC.