The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has once again denied bail to disputed police informant Brown Mogotsi, ruling that he failed to place any new facts before the court to justify his release.
Magistrate Annalise Tlhabi delivered the judgment on Monday morning, finding that Mogotsi’s second application was merely a repetition of arguments already presented during his first failed attempt.
“The applicant has simply reshuffled the evidence that was previously before this court,” Tlhabi said in her ruling.
Despite the setback, Mogotsi appeared unfazed and stood smiling in the dock as the magistrate dismissed his application.
Mogotsi was initially refused bail after the court found that he had failed to provide a verifiable residential address, raising concerns that he could evade trial if released.
In opposing his second bid for freedom, the State argued that the accused had attempted to interfere with witnesses. Prosecutors Thami Mohegan’s alleged that Mogotsi used his wife to intimidate a key witness into changing her statement, a claim that further strengthened the State’s case against granting him bail.
Mogotsi is facing a string of charges, including defeating the ends of justice, perjury, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and discharging a firearm.
The charges stem from an alleged staged assassination attempt in Vosloorus in November last year.
According to the State, Mogotsi falsely claimed that unknown gunmen had tried to kill him outside his home. He alleged that several shots were fired at him and that he narrowly escaped with his life.
However, subsequent police investigations allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting that the shooting had been orchestrated and that Mogotsi may have fabricated the assassination attempt.
Investigators believe the incident was staged to create the impression that his life was under threat. The alleged false report triggered an extensive police investigation before detectives concluded that there were inconsistencies in Mogotsi’s version of events.
The matter attracted widespread public attention because of Mogotsi’s profile within the ANC and his previous involvement in political matters.
Monday’s ruling means that Mogotsi will remain behind bars as he awaits trial on the charges against him.
The case has been postponed to 8 July for further investigations and pre-trial proceedings as prosecutors continue to build their case against the former ANC official.
