Boeremag 'planned to jump bail'
2004-07-16 15:14
Pretoria - Two of the Boeremag treason trial accused had been overheard discussing how they would derail the trial and flee the country if they were granted bail, the Pretoria High Court heard on Friday.
The prosecution submitted a statement from Wouter Viljoen, a fellow inmate at Pretoria's Local Prison, as part of its opposition to the bail application of Gerhardus "Oom Vis" Visagie, Rudi Gouws, Herman van Rooyen, and Johan Pretorius jun.
Viljoen had approached the police after overhearing a conversation between Gouws and Van Rooyen, the statement said.
He claimed he overheard the two men saying they could not wait to be out on bail, as they would not attend the trial, but would avoid it with doctors' letters.
They said they would see how the trial went and if it went against them, would flee the country.
"I also heard them saying they would... derail the trial," Viljoen said.
The 22 Boeremag accused are facing 43 charges, including counts of high treason, terrorism and causing a series of explosions, in the process murdering one person.
Chief investigating officer Superintendent Tollie Vreugdenburg said in a statement the state had exhibits, and documentary and oral evidence to support its case.
"The applicants have fled before and I am convinced that they would flee again if they had the opportunity. Both Gouws and Van Rooyen have previous convictions for assault.
Violent coup plotted
"I believe in particular that Pretorius jun, Gouws and Van Rooyen would again commit acts of terror or violence if they are freed on bail.
"Charges 10 to 43 resulted from acts committed since they fled on December 16, 2002," Vreugdenburg said.
It is alleged that the men plotted a violent coup to take over the government and that the four bail applicants and Pretorius' brothers Wilhelm and Kobus had planned and executed 11 bombings in Soweto and Bronkhorstspruit towards the end of 2002 while fleeing from the police.
They had allegedly also built a bomb to murder former president Nelson Mandela, and had planned a series of bombings at two court buildings and the Reserve Bank in Pretoria, the Johannesburg International Airport, Parliament in Cape Town, and taxi ranks and the SABC building in Johannesburg.
The State alleges that Van Rooyen and Dion Krause (now a state witness) had been on their way to plant a powerful car bomb in Pretoria's Marabastad when they were arrested.
"The applicants changed their appearances and Van Rooyen also gave police a false name - Hendrik van der Walt - during his arrest. All of these factors hampered the police's search," Vreugdenburg said.
The bail hearing continues.
The treason trial itself is set to resume on January 26, when the State is expected to call its third witness.
- SAPA