Johannesburg - A Limpopo businessman accused of killing his wife has had his bail extended after he was re-arrested on a second murder charge.
Police arrested Rameez Patel again on July 30 for the 2013 murder of Tony Adams, 19, who was murdered at the home of Patel’s father in Nirvana after he was accused of intrusion.
At the time of his second arrest, Rameez was out on bail of R250 000 for the premeditated murder charge of his wife Fatima in April. Fatima was shot in the couple’s townhouse.
On Thursday, magistrate Ndivhuwo Munyai said Rameez’s latest release was linked to the R250 000 bail, which he had already paid for the first murder case. He said that if the first murder case was concluded before the latest one, the State would keep the bail money until the second case had been finalised.
Initially, Rameez’s brother Razim was arrested for the teenager’s murder, but the case against him was withdrawn because of lack of evidence. Rameez was then arrested.
The investigating officer, Colonel William Ramogobedi, told the court on Tuesday after Rameez’s second arrest that the latter had assaulted Adams with a stick. Ramogobedi said Rameez had instructed Razim to take a video while he assaulted Adams. The video was not presented to the court.
Rameez denied he murdered Adams. But the State insisted it had a strong case against him.
On Thursday, the magistrate dismissed Ramogobedi’s contention that Rameez planned to skip the country and evade trial. Despite Ramogobedi saying police had intelligence information to back up the claims, the magistrate said no evidence was presented the court.
Munyai also said the State never made an application to cancel Rameez’s bail despite accusing him of violating its conditions. This was after Rameez travelled from Polokwane to Thohoyandou despite Ramogobedi refusing to grant him permission.
But the magistrate said initial bail conditions stipulated Rameez needed only to inform the investigating officer when he planned to leave the jurisdiction he had been confined to.
The amended bail condition now required Rameez to get permission from Ramogobedi before travelling.
Adams’s half brother, Wenso Williams, said the family were disappointed that Rameez had been granted bail. Rameez’s family refused to speak to the media.
The case was postponed to September 28.
The Star