The Cape Flats community would be outraged if Taliep Petersen’s widow, Najwa, and her alleged accomplices in Petersen’s murder were released on bail, the Wynberg Regional Court heard on Tuesday.
Najwa and co-accused Abdoer Emjedi have launched a bail application before magistrate Robert Henney, acting Regional Court president in the Western Cape.
Najwa’s two other co-accused, Waheed Hassen and Jefferson Snyders, had elected not to apply for bail.
The investigating officer in Taliep’s murder, Captain Joe Dryden, told the court: ”If Peterson and Emjedi get bail, the community will be outraged, and if the deceased’s wife gets bail the community will not hesitate to harm her.
”Her release will also undermine the community’s trust in the criminal justice system, as well as the safety and security of the community.
”I cannot guarantee her safety.”
Dryden told the court the entire world had a strong interest in the case, including the bail application, due to Taliep’s international popularity as an entertainer.
Dryden said there was a life policy worth R5,10-million in which Taliep’s widow had been the beneficiary.
This policy had recently been ceded to his minor daughter, who is now the beneficiary, but Najwa remains in control of it.
Dryden said Najwa had plenty of money and received a monthly income of N$22 000 from a family business in Namibia.
Dryden said family regularly visited Najwa in the police cell were she is being held and they all drove cars with a Namibian registration.
When questioned by prosecutor Shireen Riley, Dryden said there was no extradition agreement between South African and Namibia.
If he wished to expand the investigation to Namibia, where the family has a business, Dirk Fruits in Oshikati, he would have to approach the Namibian police and hope for their cooperation.
The spacious court room was packed to capacity with armed police guarding the entrance doors. People unable to find seats were not allowed into the court room.
Tuesday’s proceedings were often interrupted by knocking on the doors, which police ignored.
Cellphones rang a few times, and when the gallery gasped over anything Dryden said, the magistrate threatened to clear the gallery as he had done last week.
The magistrate warned the gallery: ”I will not tolerate the public turning this bail hearing into a circus.”
The hearing continues. — Sapa