BETHAL – Bethal Magistrate’s Court denied bail on Thursday, 4 March to a man arrested for armed robberies last year.
Mr Joseph Mashaba (57) from Daveyton appeared in the dock before Magistrate Motlakadibe Sybol Matladi to apply for bail.
Mashaba is facing, among others, four charges of aggravated robbery stemming from two armed robberies that happened in Bethal in September last year.
The robberies happened at a house in Ext 2 on 2 September and at a house in Ext 5 on 22 September.
In both incidents, the families were tied up and robbed at gunpoint of household goods, guns and vehicles. They were forced to surrender the PINs to their bank cards and large amounts were also stolen from these bank accounts.
During the bail hearing, the prosecutor, Mr Brilliant Khoza said there is strong evidence linking Mr Mashaba to the crimes. Mr Mashaba is also facing similar charges in Witbank and Delmas.
Magistrate Matladi said in her verdict that although the applicant is innocent until proven guilty, he is facing charges that carry hefty sentences should he be found guilty.
She said taking into account he has two similar cases pending and also his past conduct, there is a likelihood that he will commit a similar offence when out on bail.
