Boeremag bail on hold

2004-03-17 16:48

Pretoria - A Pretoria judge reserved judgment on Wednesday on whether one of the 22 Boeremag treason trialists should be released on bail.

Judge Anna-Marie de Vos has heard argument in Dr Lets Pretorius second bail bid and was asked on Wednesday to refuse his application.

Pretorius's counsel Piet Pistorius has argued that his health and particular personal circumstances require his release on bail.

State advocate Dries van Rensburg argued that Pretorius's promises not to flee should be seen against the treason charge he faces.

He argued that the 22 accused in the Boeremag treason trial were bound together through ideology and, especially, their religious convictions.

Pretorius might have testified under oath that he would stand trial, but it should be kept in mind that he viewed the government and its courts as illegal and that members of the Boeremag had felt so strongly about their case that they took an oath in which they had pledged their lives, he said.

Van Rensburg argued that the State had a very good case against Pretorius, who was one of the Boeremag's leaders and had played a very important role in financing the planning phase of a military coup. Van Rensburg said the State had evidence to this effect in its possession.

Pretorius and his 21 co-accused face charges ranging from high treason and terrorism to murder and causing a series of explosions. Their trial will resume on Friday, March 19.

Van Rensburg said the fact that Pretorius's sons and co-accused had managed to evade the police for months while allegedly planting a series of bombs in various parts of the country showed that the organisation had a wide support system.

His alleged bad health, his wife's health and his worsening financial position was not exceptional enough to warrant his release on bail, Van Rensburg said.

In turn Pistorius argued that there were exceptional circumstances in the accused's health and personal circumstances.

He said the State's case against his client was not strong and Pretorius was in any event determined to attend his trial.

He said medical treatment in jail was not adequate and it was endangering Pretorius' life. The fact that the trial might take up to four years to complete should also be taken into account, he added.

Pretorius earlier testified that he had back problems, high blood pressure, a ringing sound in his ears, allergies and suffered from depression. He was also worried about his wife - who had complications after surgery for breast cancer and suffered from depression - and the deterioration of his businesses.

De Vos reserved judgment in the bail application.

Dr Pretorius in March last year lost his first bid to get bail before a Pretoria magistrate.

- SAPA