Overview
- The state told the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court that police received information on August 20 that Oupa ‘Brown’ Mogotsi planned to disguise himself in a Correctional Services uniform and walk out of the court cells.
- Correctional Services and police applied extra security when Mogotsi next appeared, including removing him from the transport vehicle and fitting leg irons, and the court has asked Correctional Services for a written report on the allegation.
- Mogotsi’s defence presented new residential documents, including a lease, tax invoice and proof of payment, and asked the court to treat the new address as a changed circumstance and keep it out of the public record for his family’s safety.
- The investigating officer disputed the new-address evidence, saying one property was only occupied days before Mogotsi’s May arrest and arguing his ease of changing residences and past contact with witnesses make him a flight risk; previous bail bids were refused twice by the magistrates’ court and once by the High Court.
- The matter is postponed to September 1 for the Correctional Services report, which the court said could materially affect whether Mogotsi remains in custody or is granted bail at the next hearing.