PRETORIA - Pretoria Magistrate Court has rejected organised Crime Unit member Fannie Nkosi's request to be placed at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in the hospital wing.
This was heard when Nkosi appeared in court on Monday to apply for bail.
Nkosi raised fears that he might be poisoned in prison. At the same time, he also flagged concerns over his health as he is diabetic.
But the Magistrate Thandi Theledi argued otherwise, saying this was not a substantial reason to be placed under the hospital wing
She explained that the placement of a prisoner in a prison hospital wing is reserved for detainees who require medical treatment, observation, or nursing care.
“It is not designed for function as a form of protective custody in the absence of any medical necessity,” Theledi said.
Theledi said Nkosi will be kept in the general population, where safety will be ensured.
“I am not going to micromanage the prison and say somebody must go here or somebody must go there. They will assess the need, they will assess the possibility, and they will make their own decision,” she added.
Nkosi was arrested after being found in possession of state-owned ammunition and a hand grenade, six case dockets, R50,000 in cash and seven unsecured licensed firearms at his house.
He implicated himself and senior police officials in alleged ties to organised crime figures when he testified before the Madlanga Commission.
His case was remanded to 20 April for the continuation of his bail application.