By Anita Dangazele
- Judge Mokhine Mosopa said the magistrate who denied Nkosi bail did not get the law wrong and the appeal should not succeed.
- Prosecutors say more than R300,000 moved through Nkosi’s account while he earned about R16,000 a month, and he has not explained the money.
Suspended police sergeant Fannie Nkosi will stay in jail. The Pretoria High Court has rejected his bid to overturn the magistrate’s decision to keep him behind bars.
Judge Mokhine Mosopa said the Pretoria North magistrate applied the law correctly when he denied bail, and there was no reason to step in.
“I see no need to interfere with the bail judgment of the court, as the magistrate did not exercise its discretion wrongly,” Mosopa said.
The appeal was refused.
Nkosi is a sergeant in the South African Police Service’s Organised Crime Unit. He was suspended in March and arrested in April during a raid on his Pretoria North home.
He faces charges including unlawful possession of explosives, multiple counts of failing to safeguard firearms and ammunition, defeating the administration of justice, and theft.
The court also heard that Nkosi failed to explain why he had not returned police material after his suspension, or why large amounts of cash and ammunition were found during the raid.
State prosecutor Trott Mphahlele told the court more than R50,000 in cash was found at the property. Prosecutors say more than R300,000 moved through Nkosi’s bank account despite him earning about R16,000 a month.
The state warned that if released, Nkosi could manipulate police systems, tamper with documents and interfere with witnesses.
His lawyer Hendrick Potgieter argued the lower court failed to properly consider strict bail conditions that could have secured his release. The High Court disagreed.
Nkosi is also accused of acting as a middleman between alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and senior police officers.
Pictured above: Suspended police sergeant Fannie Nkosi has lost his bid to be released on bail.
Image source: Screenshot from a previous live broadcast of the Madlanga Commission
