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[FILE] Benches inside the court room.
The case against prominent Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and his two co-accused has been postponed to Friday for a formal bail application.
Sibanyoni and his co-accused Daniel Masilela and Philemon Msiza, appeared in the Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The accused’s legal representatives have criticised the state, arguing it had violated the accused’s right to bail by requesting additional time to gather information.
However, the state maintained that all matters before the courts must be treated equally and that no preferential treatment should be afforded to prioritise this case over other pending matters.
The trio are facing charges of extortion and money laundering. Lawyers for the accused say their clients were in good spirits and ready to proceed with the bail application, adding that all signed affidavits had already been submitted.
However, the state requested a seven-day postponement to allow for more time to gather evidence to be presented before court, a move strongly opposed by the defence.
Meanwhile, presiding magistrate David Erasmus informed the court that the Chief Magistrate of the Mbombela District, Tule Tonjeni, had directed that the matter be postponed until Friday, when she is expected to preside over the case.
The accused have been remanded back in custody.
VIDEO | The state has mentioned that they will oppose bail:
