JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it is prepared to defend the court’s decision to deny former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya bail if he challenges the ruling.
The Randburg Magistrate’s Court denied Sibiya bail on Tuesday. He faces charges of sexual grooming, human trafficking and the reckless handling of a firearm.
NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the prosecution was confident in the evidence presented to the court and would oppose any appeal against the bail decision.
READ | Shadrack Sibiya denied bail
“We will always be ready to deal with whatever appeal it is. Justice has to be served in its totality, and if they feel that they need to appeal this matter, they can do so, and we will then come and defend,” Kganyago said.
“From where we are sitting as the NPA, we are comfortable that the evidence that we’ve put before the court is good enough, and that is why we got the ruling that we got today.”
READ | Sibiya rape accuser fears for her safety if he is granted bail
Kganyago also said the State was close to being ready for trial, with the investigating officer finalising outstanding work.
“We are just going to be tying up the last things the investigating officer is going to deal with, and we will be ready for trial, and we hope it can be done in a speedy manner,” he said.
Sibiya is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman and sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl. The allegations have not been proven in court.