A suspect in a R250-million drug syndicate was granted bail of R500Â 000 by the Alberton Magistrate’s Court on Friday, South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news reported.
The court also ruled that Stephanos Paparas be placed under a 24-hour house arrest with a strict condition attached that he not make contact with any of the state witnesses.
The ruling was made despite the state’s opposition to bail amid fears that Paparas would tamper with evidence and interfere with witnesses.
Three of Paparas’s former co-accused earlier entered plea bargain agreements with the state to testify against their co-accused.
Two other so-called minor syndicate role-players, including Paparas’s 70-year-old father Dimitrio, were granted bail last month.
The Scorpions arrested Lesley Allan Curtis, Christiaan Alblas, Pedro Marques, Dimitrio Paparas and Stanley Poonin during a raid on a suspected drug storage factory in Alberton on July 7.
Drugs with a street value of R250-million were confiscated during the raid. Investigators seized hashish and cannabis believed to be destined for the overseas market.
The sixth accused handed himself over to police on July 13. — Sapa