'Druglord' to stay behind bars
2009-12-29 21:03
Johannesburg - An alleged drug kingpin will ring in the New Year behind bars after he was denied bail at the South Gauteng High Court, police said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Musa Zondi said Uche Hyginus, a Nigerian national, was arrested earlier this month in Radiokop. At the time he was out on bail for a drug-related crime dating back to 2005, he said.
He appeared in court on Monday and was denied bail. He is due back in court on January 5.
"Police launched an investigation into his activities following a complaint from the member of the public who suspected that Hyginus was involved in narcotics."
"Subsequent investigations convinced the police that indeed, he is involved and uses the cover of legitimate business in central Johannesburg for his activities," Zondi said in a statement.
During a search of one of Hyginus' properties, police allegedly discovered cocaine, heroin, hashish and ecstasy tablets.
He also faces charges of the contravention of the Marriage Act as well as contravening the Immigration Act.
"Hyginus is believed to have fraudulently married himself to a South African woman in 2003, Tshitshana Mhlambo, without her knowledge. Mhlambo laid the charges against Hyginus back then."
He 'divorced' the woman two years later and in 2006 remarried his Nigerian wife who was also in the country.
- SAPA