High Court rejects bail appeal of suspended Organised Crime Unit Sergeant Fannie Nkosi

Suspended Organised Crime Unit police sergeant Fannie Nkosi will remain behind bars after the Pretoria High Court dismissed his appeal against a lower court's decision to deny him bail.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Judge Mokhine Mosopa upheld the ruling of Pretoria North Magistrate Thandi Theledi, finding that she had correctly applied the law when she denied Nkosi bail in April.

Nkosi is facing multiple charges, including theft, money laundering, defeating the ends of justice, failure to secure firearms, failure to safeguard ammunition, possession of unlicensed ammunition and possession of a stun grenade.

The appeal court found that Nkosi had failed to adequately explain why police equipment was allegedly not returned following his suspension, as well as the presence of large amounts of cash and ammunition discovered during raids at his home.

During the appeal, Nkosi's legal team argued that the magistrate had erred in balancing the strength of the State's case against the evidence presented in support of his release on bail.

However, Judge Mosopa ruled that the magistrate's findings were sound and supported by the evidence before the court. He agreed with Magistrate Theledi's conclusion that the interests of justice do not permit Nkosi's release.

The judge further held that granting bail under the circumstances would undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system.