UK national 'broke' SA laws
2009-11-18 16:06
Verulam - A Briton accused of being part of an international drug smuggling syndicate allegedly misrepresented himself when he applied for a life partner permit, the Verulam Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.
According to an affidavit by home affairs official Sam Langa, Paul Bromley was recorded as being the life partner of South African Dennis Joanie.
"Surprisingly, Dennis is currently married to Warren Earl Dennis," Langa told the court during a bail application by Bromley.
"Life partner permits are only issued to foreigners who are legal and have existing relationships with South Africans who are not married," he said.
No supporting documents
It also emerged during Bromley's bail application that the department had no supporting documents to show that he was in South Africa to conduct business.
Bromley and other two Britons, brothers Paul Beasley and John Beasley and South Africans Perumal Naidoo, Morgan Athan Nadasen and Gopal Ganesh were arrested after the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of R600m in Durban and the United Kingdom.
Ganesh also applied for bail on Wednesday.
The court indicated that a ruling on both applications will be made on November 24.
State prosecutor Alistair Watters has conceded that Ganesh is unlikely to leave the country or intimidate state witness if he is granted bail.
However, he contends that Bromley is a serious flight risk, should he be granted bail.
"Bromley has no legitimate grounds to stay in South Africa," he told the court.
"Allegations that he intimidated some of his fellow accused are very serious," Watters said.
Death threats
Detective Captain Devandran Moodley told the court that some State witnesses had received death threats from Bromley.
He added that he had received reports from all the accused that they had been threatened by Bromley not to co-operate with the State.
Arguing for Bromley's release on bail, his legal representative Shane Matthews said the State had failed to produce affidavits from people who accused his client of intimidating them.
"These are serious allegations, yet the State has failed to provide proof.
"It does not help the court to make allegations and provide no proof," he said.
State to make deal with accused
He described the investigating officers as being overzealous, saying that the State had no case against his client.
Matthews said Bromley was engaged to a South African and that they were not living together.
In his affidavit, Bromley said he did not know anything about the drugs recovered by the police.
However he admitted to being in possession of four grams of cocaine when he was arrested. He has claimed this was for his personal use.
It also emerged in court that the State was likely to make a deal with some of the accused to plead guilty and turn State's witness.
Nadasen and Naidoo intend bringing bail applications on November 24.
The Beasley brothers will appear again in court on December 11.
- SAPA