A police sergeant has hit back at allegations that accused number one, Musa Kekana, was unlawfully removed from Edenvale Hospital and taken to Bramley Police Station instead of South Rand Hospital.
Sergeant Elvis Raseala was under cross-examination by Kekana’s lawyer, Riaan Gissing, in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday.
Raseala is the latest State witness in the trial involving alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused.
The accused face 25 charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering.
Gissing put it to Raseala that police had acted unlawfully when they transferred Kekana from the hospital to Bramley Police Station.
“I put it to you that you unlawfully removed him from the hospital and took him to Bramley Police Station instead of South Rand Hospital.”
Raseala denied the allegation and maintained that there was nothing irregular about the transfer.
He told the court that it was routine for accused persons under police guard to be taken back to a police station after being discharged from hospital.
Raseala also said he had completed the necessary documentation relating to Kekana’s discharge and transfer.
“When you take someone from hospital you don’t just take them and leave. That’s why I signed the forms. I knew there was a transfer to South Rand. I would have alerted those in high position.”
The dispute over Kekana’s transfer forms part of a trial-within-a-trial, which is examining whether evidence obtained following his arrest can be admitted into the main trial.
The State told the court that its next witness is not readily available, prompting a request for a postponement.
Gissing welcomed the postponement, saying there would be little point in opposing it given the circumstances.
“So for me to turn around and object against a further postponement would simply not make sense.”
The matter has been postponed to Monday, when the State is expected to call its next witness.
