Bail decision pending for Noordheuwel drug bust accused
The court is expected to rule on bail on March 26 as legal arguments and allegations continue in the R1.7m drug bust case.
Two suspects arrested following a major drug bust in Noordheuwel on March 15 remain in custody as the court has yet to deliver its bail ruling.
The accused appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court on March 17, where they were identified as Richard Okuchuku Aralu and George Chigozie Abel.
Their bail applications were postponed to March 20. On that date, Aralu did not appear, with his defence stating he had been hospitalised due to injuries he alleges were sustained during an assault by police.
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Abel appeared in court, where his defence argued for his release on bail, citing that he has no prior convictions and had handed in his passport. The court also heard that he owns property in Nigeria. His defence proposed bail of R1 000, while the state argued for R20 000.
During their initial appearance, Aralu alleged he was assaulted by police, while Abel claimed that thousands of rands’ worth of his property had been stolen.
Both bail applications were remanded to March 26, when judgment is expected.
