Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride appeared briefly in the Pretoria Regional Court on Friday morning and was granted bail of R1 000.
McBride faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, defeating the ends of justice and fraud.
The charges relate to McBride’s car accident in December last year, near Centurion, Pretoria. He was allegedly drunk when he crashed his car and his officers allegedly bullied witnesses and covered up for him.
Earlier this month the Johannesburg High Court granted an interim order against McBride and several other officers, preventing them from intimidating three officers who made statements about the accident to the National Prosecuting Authority.
The three — Stanley Segathevan, Patrick Johnston and Itumeleng Koko — have since reportedly gone into hiding.
McBride was also ordered on Friday not to interfere with the state witnesses. – Sapa