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Boeremag man 'a flight risk'
05/07/2007 18:37 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Boeremag accused Jurie Vermeulen posed a danger to society and it was not in the interest of justice to release him on bail, a Pretoria High Court judge ruled on Thursday.
Transvaal Deputy Judge President Jerry Shongwe turned down a bail application by the 39-year-old Vermeulen, who submitted that his five-year-old son needed him and was likely to develop a permanent personality disorder if he did not get to know his father.
Vermeulen's son, Juan, was six months old when his father - a Free State farmer - was arrested for treason, terrorism and other charges in October 2002 and has seen his dad for only half-an-hour a month since then.
A social worker said the lack of a father already had had a negative impact on the young boy, and might have permanent consequences in future.
His counsel, Bernard Bandjes, argued that Vermeulen had not played a major role in the alleged violent coup conspiracy, although he admitted attending a series of meetings at which the coup was planned. He said Vermeulen had a valid defence against the charges.
'Easy to cross South African borders'
Bandjes pointed out that his client was already in jail when the bulk of the alleged offences, including a series of bomb explosions, took place.
The State opposed bail, saying Vermeulen was unemployed, did not have any assets, faced a long jail term and was likely to flee.
The State pointed out that it had taken police eight months to track down and re-arrest two of the treason trialists after they managed to escape from the court cells.
Investigating officer Tollie Vreugdenburg said even though Vermeulen did not have a passport, it was easy to cross South African borders, as was seen by the large number of illegal immigrants in the country. Extradition proceedings were also a long and drawn-out process.
He said the two treason trialists who escaped had managed to remain free for such a long time because they had help from members of the community.
Two people who helped escapees Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws will appear in the magistrate's court in Modimolle (Nylstroom) next week.
Judge Shongwe said Vermeulen faced serious charges and did not deny that he had been involved in the planning stages of a conspiracy to overthrow the government violently, although he claimed he had been there under duress and had taken part out of fear.
'Disposition to violence is evident'
He said there was no doubt that the conduct of Vermeulen and his 20 fellow accused contained a threat of violence and was likely to affect the safety of the public.
"In my view, the applicant's disposition to violence is evident in the fact that he was part of a conspiracy to use violence to overthrow the state," said the judge.
He said Vermeulen had been in jail for more than four years without applying for bail and without bonding with his son and only now thought highly of their relationship.
Might try to avoid trial
He said releasing Vermeulen would not be in the interest of justice, as there was likelihood that he would endanger the safety of the public.
He said Vermeulen could try to evade his trial in view of the strength of the State's case against him.
The treason trial will resume on July 30, when the case for the defence starts.
- SAPA
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