By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Bloemfontein Magistrate court has granted bail to accused number 11, Joel Makhetha, in the Thabo Bester prison escape case.
Joel Makhetha and accused number 12 Moeketsi Ramolula appeared in court on Tuesday morning to bring their bail application.
However, Ramolula abondoned his bail application.
The pair is facing charges of corruption, violation of a body and aiding and abetting notorious Facebook rapist and convicted murderer, Thabo Bester, in his escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year.
“Accused number 11, you are in custody; bail is set at an amount of R10 000 on the following conditions that you are ordered upon payment of bail money to report yourself on Mondays to the Bloemspruit Police Station between the hours of eight o’clock in the morning and at four o’clock in the afternoon,” said Magistrate Estelle De Lange.
“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.”
So far, 12 people have been arrested, including Bester, of which seven suspects have been released on bail including Makhetha.
Ramolula is to remain in custody until the 8th of August when all 12 suspects are due to appear again together, including Bester and his accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana.
At least 18 witnesses will be called to testify in the State’s court case into Bester’s escape, the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday.
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