News24 | Brown Mogotsi denied bail in fake assassination attempt case

Alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi has been denied bail in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court after allegedly faking an assassination attempt on himself in Vosloorus in November last year.

Magistrate Annalise Tlhapi said Mogotsi failed to provide an address where he could be traced.

“The addresses provided by the applicant are not correct and don’t belong to the applicant,” said Tlhapi.

Mogotsi allegedly fired 11 rounds at his own car with an illegal firearm linked to other crimes. Eyewitnesses told police and the media that he had faked the incident.

Mogotsi was arrested shortly after giving evidence at the Madlanga Commission.

READ | Mogotsi not a flight risk despite address mixup, defence tells court

Tlhapi considered whether Mogotsi would evade trial, be a flight risk, be likely to be traced, and whether he would stand trial if granted bail.

Over the course of the bail application, Mogotsi provided three addresses, including the address in his warning statement taken on 16 May, and a Google Maps pin location.

Investigating officer Alfred Odendaal visited all the addresses and submitted a supplementary statement concluding that Mogotsi resided at none of them.

Thlapi briefly touched on the merits of the trial, stating that it was apparent that there is an “overwhelming case against Mogotsi”.

Mogotsi appeared in court on Thursday, facing five serious charges, including defeating the ends of justice, perjury, the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm.

The State strongly opposed bail, arguing that he was a flight risk due to discrepancies with his residential address and allegations that he tried to bribe the investigating officer.

The State alleges that the “assassination attempt” on Mogotsi in November last year was entirely fabricated.

Mogotsi told police that occupants of a white bakkie followed him from a filling station and opened fire on his vehicle, forcing him to flee for his life.

ALSO READ | Brown Mogotsi allegedly tried to bribe investigating officer to get bail

However, the State’s case is that Mogotsi stopped his own vehicle, stepped out with an unlicensed 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and riddled his own car with bullets.

He allegedly then filed an attempted murder case and signed a false affidavit under oath to back up his story.

The matter has been postponed to 12 June for disclosure of the docket and confirmation of a trial date.

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