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A suspect linked to five kidnappings for ransom in the border region was denied bail in the Stutterheim Magistrates Court on Friday.
Akhona Jacu who is alleged to have extorted money from businesses of foreign nationals in Stutterheim faces charges of murder, attempted murder, and the possession of unlicensed firearms.
Jacu’s co-accused, Bongani Swaartbooi, remains in hospital after crashing into a horse while fleeing the scene.
Applying for bail, Advocate Luzuko Tshingana argued that the accused financially supports his disabled mother, his five children, and his sister who suffers from epilepsy from his three businesses.
He said he runs a chicken broiler, a wood-chopping business, and a tavern.
Magistrate Johannes Burger said his tavern and broiler business were in dispute.
The court heard that Jacu’s tavern has been operating without a license while submitting documents for the broiler business only track dealings from after Jacu was arrested in August.
Magistrate Burger said surely if this was his form of income there would be proof of his enterprise before his arrest.
The court also heard Jacu absconded a case in Bellville, Cape Town in 2016 and was only brought back on the roll for an armed robbery in Mdantsane two years later.
Meanwhile, the investigating officer, in this case, testified that he was on the scene the day Jacu collected protection fee money from businesses of foreign nationals in the Stutterheim area.
According to his version of events, the phone used to execute the extortion, the money collected from the businesses and the firearms used to shoot at police upon arrest were found in Jacu’s possession. While Jacu maintained he was accompanying his friend who died during the shootout.
Handing down judgment, Magistrate Burger said he was satisfied by the state’s evidence that there was a prima facie case against the accused.
The matter has been remanded to the 30th of October.
