JUDGMENT in the bail application of former Kaizer Chiefs public officer Louis “Spinter” Tshakoane and his wife, Nkopane, is reserved for Magistrate Phindi Keswa to consider all the facts presented before her.
Louis (74), his wife Nkopane (59) and their son Louis Jnr (34) appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, 23 May.
They face charges of fraud, theft, money laundering and contravening the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act.
Their lawyer, Abrie Van der Merve, said Louis and his wife intend not to plead guilty to the charges they're facing.
He said the latter is not working, and their family members have raised R20 000 in cash for both if they are given bail.
He said both accused would abide by court instructions throughout the court proceedings of the case.
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“The two are first time offenders, and they have no criminal case pending against them.
“Louis is a pensioner and depends on government grants, and his wife Nkopane is unemployed, and both cannot afford a bail above R10 000.
“It will be in the interest of justice that both accused, two and three, be released on R10 000 each bail coupled with the condition that the court might inflict such, as restricted to the house where they live between 6pm and 6am," Van der Merve said.
He said that the court could consider the reporting condition at the local police station.
The state prosecutor, Terrence Zitha, said they would not oppose bail considering that Tshakoane and his wife Nkopane's passports have expired and they can be traced through their residential details given to the court.
NPA regional spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that the state did not oppose bail as the matter was postponed last week.
“There was an investigation conducted last week. We since have a change of heart. As you would recall, the state prosecutor indicated in the court that we would oppose the bail.
“We then decided not to oppose bail, especially for accused number two and three, Louis and Nkopane,” Mjonondwane said.
She said accused number one, Louis Jnr, has abandoned bail.
“He indicated that he won’t be applying for bail. As the state, we will await to hear further from him and his defence team whether or not in future they will bring such an application.
“For now, we know that he evaded his trial and abandoned an amount of R75 000 set for bail at that stage. The bail amount was forfeited to the state."
The case was postponed to Thursday, 25 May.
