A retired policeman, alleged to be the driver of the hit men accused of killing a KZN doctor, has been granted R50 000 bail.
|||Pietermaritzburg - A retired policeman, alleged to be the driver of the vehicle transporting the hit men accused of killing a Pietermaritzburg doctor, has been granted R50 000 bail.
The unemployed father of two, Brian Basil Treasurer of Eastwood, in Pietermaritzburg, appeared yesterday alongside Sabelo Dlamini, 24, and Mfaniseni Nxumalo, 34, for the murder of Dr Bhavish Sewram.
Treasurer, 53, told the court he was able to put up the R50 000 with the help of family, some of whom were present in court.
Before granting Treasurer bail, Pietermaritzburg Regional Court magistrate Bhekizitha Phoswa took care to explain to the accused that he was facing premeditated murder charges - a Schedule 6 offence. If convicted it could mean life imprisonment for him.
Sewram, 33, was shot dead outside his surgery in Chota Motala (Greytown) Road on May 13.
It is believed that a Pietermaritzburg businessman, who waged a personal vendetta against Sewram, was the mastermind behind the attack.
Sewram had just closed his surgery when he was gunned down.
On Tuesday the magistrate reminded Treasurer that not disclosing previous convictions was an offence.
Treasurer had told the court he had no previous convictions or pending cases.
He said he was involved in a project to build a crèche or boarding house on a piece of land he owned in Copesville.
Treasurer said the project was near completion. He said if he was not released on bail, he feared that his property would be damaged and his belongings stolen by criminals in the area.
He said the building was in a “dangerous” area.
He told the court he intended pleading not guilty.
Before moving into his Eastwood residence five months ago, Treasurer lived with his sister in Raisethorpe, for about five years. Apart from family overseas, he had no other relatives outside Pietermaritzburg.
Prosecutor Ricky van Wyk said the State was not opposed to bail because of Treasurer’s strong family ties in Pietermaritzburg and he was not considered a flight risk.
He said there was no risk of Treasurer interfering with witnesses.
Warrant Officer Yoga Naidoo of the provincial task team said that according to the evidence, there was a hit on Sewram.
In granting bail Phoswa said there was nothing shown to the court to suggest that Treasurer would jeopardise investigations.
The matter returns to court on July 26. Dlamini and Nxumalo, arrested two weeks ago, remain in custody pending their bail hearing.
rizwana.umar@inl.co.za
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