Controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has been denied bail by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
Mogotsi will remain in custody until his next court appearance on June 12.
In her ruling on Thursday, Magistrate Annalise Tihapi said Mogotsi had failed to provide a verifiable residential address to the court.
“The addresses provided by the applicant are not correct and don’t belong to the applicant,” Tihapi said.
The court found that Mogotsi’s inability to furnish an accurate address raised concerns that he could abscond if released on bail.
Although the State indicated that it was not opposing bail, prosecutors argued that the court should wait for the completion of the address verification process before making a final decision.
Mogotsi was arrested about two weeks ago and faces charges of defeating the ends of justice, perjury, possession of an unlicensed firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The charges stem from allegations that he orchestrated a purported assassination attempt against himself.
His arrest followed shortly after his appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where his name featured prominently in testimony concerning alleged political interference and connections to law enforcement networks.
Investigators are probing claims that a shooting involving Mogotsi’s red vehicle on the East Rand, initially reported as an assassination attempt, may have been staged.
Police allege that Mogotsi fired 11 shots at his own vehicle using an illegal firearm.
Witnesses reportedly told both police and members of the media that the incident had been fabricated.
Authorities further allege that the firearm used in the shooting is linked to several other crimes, including an armed robbery in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg.
