Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir was a suitable candidate for bail, his legal team told the high court in Johannesburg during an urgent application, the Saturday Star reported.
The application was launched in a bid to overturn the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court's decision to deny Krejcir bail on December 13.
Krejcir was not present when the new application was brought before court on Friday.
Krejcir's lawyer Francois Roets said he believed the charges Krejcir and his co-accused faced, of kidnapping, assault and attempted murder, should not be a schedule five offence.
Roets also argued that Palm Ridge magistrate Reginald Dama, who denied Krejcir bail, should have allowed his team to cross-examine a South African Revenue Service investigator who had submitted an affidavit.
"This was a gross irregularity," he said.
Krejcir's escape from Czech Republic
Roets told the judge that Krejcir was "a suitable character for bail".
The judge raised the issue that Krejcir previously escaped the Czech Republic by cycling to Poland.
Roets said that Krejcir feared for his life.
"His father was killed. He was put in a tank of acid."
He said Krejcir stood to lose R60-million if he skipped bail.
Judgment was postponed until Thursday. – Sapa