Instalments are not an option to pay bail, says judge in court
According to the judge, his experience has taught him that people never return to settle their bail.
MALALANE – “This is not a furniture shop, where you can pay in instalments, it’s a court of law.”
These were the words of magistrate Mr Lucky Mhlanga, on Wednesday afternoon, February 25 after a cable-theft suspect, Mr Muzi Mkhatshwa, requested to pay his bail in instalments.
Mkhatshwa was the second suspect who made this request. Earlier Mhlanga denied another accused the instalments option, after explaining that from his experience, he has learnt that people never return to pay off their debt.
During Mkhatshwa’s first court appearance on February 23, he admitted to having a previous conviction however, on a different charge. He admitted to previously being convicted for assault in 2008, in Matsulu.
The state requested a postponement. The state’s request came as a result of suspicions that the accused had a similar pending case.
According to Mkhatshwa, he had also been previously arrested along with other suspects for being in possession of stolen copper cables, however he said he was arrested but never charged.
He was denied bail and remanded in police custody until February 25.
On the day Mhlanga granted Mkhatshwa bail of R500, which he requested to pay in two instalments. He was remanded in police custody until his next court date on April 20, after failing to make bail.
