UPDATE: “Mr Big” released on bail
Petrus Sydney Mabuza was released on bail on Monday under strict bail conditions.
MBOMBELA – Alleged rhino poaching kingpin, Petrus Sydney Mabuza, better known as “Mr Big”, was released from jail under strict bail conditions earlier this week. He was released on bail of R250 000 in the Nelspruit High Court on Tuesday after successfully appealing the decision of the White River Magistrate’s Court, which denied him bail on July 6.
Mabuza, along with three others, stands accused of six charges relating to rhino poaching. They were arrested early in June.
One of the accused, Nozwelo Mahumane, was released on bail in June, while it was placed on record at Mabuza’s bail hearing that the other accused, Moshe Thobela and Romance Khoza, withdrew their bail applications.
READ ALSO: Mr Big bail application disrupted by gun violence threat
According to Mabuza’s defence attorney, Vusi Segodi, his client has to report to Nelspruit Police Station every Friday and he was instructed to not leave the area without telling the investigating officer.
Mabuza’s case has been postponed to July 27 at the White River Magistrate’s Court.
MONDAY, JULY 16:
MBOMBELA – Petrus Sydney Mabuza was released on bail of R250 000 at the Nelspruit High Court today. This came after Mabuza appealed the decision of the White River Magistrate’s Court, which did not grant him bail.
According to Cpt Leroy Bruwer from the Hawks, the High Court granted Mabuza bail as it decided he was not a flight risk.
Mabuza was arrested on in the beginning of June with three other accused. They were charged on six counts related to rhino poaching. Nozwelo Mahumane was released on bail earlier in June, while it was placed on record that Moshe Thobela and Romance Khoza withdrew their bail application.
READ ALSO: BREAKING NEWS: Alleged poaching kingpin denied bail
During the bail application it was placed on record by the state that Mabuza was indeed a flight risk and that he has the means to commit similar crimes if he is not kept in jail. The defence however argued that he is well loved in the community, he suffers from pain due to a previous car accident and that he would not be able to flee or to tamper with the ongoing case against him.
Jamie Joseph from the environmental organisation Saving the Wild, who assisted the Hawks in Mabuza’s arrest, says the granting of bail is a slap in the face for them. “They are celebrating at his home and in the streets of Hazyview tonight. We are deeply upset about the release and this fight is not over.”
READ ALSO: The person behind ‘Mr Big’
