Boeremag man gets bail

2004-03-24 11:26

Pretoria - One of the Boeremag's alleged leaders, Dr Lets Pretorius, smiled broadly and his wife burst into tears and hugged him after a Pretoria High Court Judge granted him R500 000 bail on Wednesday.

Judge Anna-Marie de Vos found that Pretorius, 57, a wealthy businessman and medical doctor of Potgietersrus, had proved that extraordinary circumstances existed which justified his release on bail.

The judge however linked the granting of bail to very strict conditions.

Pretorius and three of his sons were arrested in connection with an alleged plot to violently overthrow the government. They have all pleaded not guilty to charges ranging from high treason to terrorism and murder.

Judge De Vos said it was not often that the most important members of a family found themselves in jail under such circumstances.

She said it was unlikely that Pretorius would be able to evade the police inside South Africa as supporters were already known to the police and stood to be prosecuted after the trial.

Pretorius' unique relationship with three sons and his wife - a cancer and depression sufferer, as well as his attitude towards what he described as his nation and fatherland - would keep him inside the country. She could hardly think that he was the kind of person who would leave the country, the judge said.

Support for the 22 accused seemed to have become less and there was presently little interest in the trial. It was unlikely that Pretorius' release would result in problems within the community. There was also evidence that he helped to calm racial tensions in jail.

Several of Pretorius' co-accused had already been released from jail and there was no evidence that they had continued with or revived a conspiracy to overthrow the government, she added.

Been moved

The judge said it was clear that the State no longer regarded Pretorius as such a high security risk, as he had been moved from C-Max Prison to Pretoria Local Prison not as a result of a court order, but because of a decision by the state.

She also took into account Pretorius' deteriorating health and financial situation. It was clear that he had attempted to keep his businesses going after his arrest, but it was understandable that his businesses - in which two of his sons had played an important role - would deteriorate.

De Vos stressed the circumstances of Pretorius' wife, Minnie, whose physical and mental health had deteriorated as a result of the incarceration of her husband and three sons. His release would undoubtedly improve her circumstances.

She also pointed out that Pretorius had distanced himself from the alleged coup plot and especially any violence in order to attain the goals of such a plot. She said it was unlikely that he would have been a military leader in the Boeremag and he would most probably have been in control of medical support.

- SAPA