JOHANNESBURG - “Get me out of here.” That is the instruction North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has given his lawyers.
Mogotsi appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The matter was postponed to allow for the verification of his residential address.
His lawyer, Makau Sekgatja, says they believe this is a delay tactic by the state.
Sekgatja says Mogotsi’s address was verified by police in March. He conceded, however, that it was a business address, not a residential one, which police did not consider sufficient.
The case has been postponed for seven days, until 25 May, for the information to be verified.
Mogotsi was arrested on Friday, shortly after appearing at the Madlanga Commission. He faces charges of defeating the ends of justice.
In November last year, Mogotsi claimed there had been an assassination attempt on his life. While his vehicle was caught in a hail of bullets, he escaped unharmed.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says that after collecting evidence, Mogotsi was called in to give his version of events.
"On further investigation, when compared to the evidence, we found that it was contradictory," she says.
While Mogotsi claimed his vehicle was shot at, witnesses allege that he shot at his own car.
Mathe warned the public against reporting false cases or providing false information to police.
"Such cases can result in the police opening a perjury case against you," she said, adding that defeating the ends of justice charges may also apply.
"Such cases delay justice for real victims of crime," says Mathe.
"It is a waste of resources to investigate false cases," he says.
Sekgatja says Mogotsi was shocked by his arrest but is now calm and in good spirits.
Police have also indicated that a firearm linked to the November incident is connected to other cases, including attempted murder and murder.
"Mr Mogotsi does not own a gun," says Sekgatja. He says that they take the allegations of the firearm seriously as the minimum sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a minimum 15-year sentence.
"We are going to challenge those particular charges and the court will exonerate Mr Mogotsi," says Sekgatja.
Sekgatja confirmed that Mogotsi intends to proceed with legal action against the state for unlawful arrest, maintaining that the state has no evidence to support its case.
According to his legal team, Mogotsi is focused on being released and reuniting with his family.