THE man accused of Siam Lee’s murder took to the witness stand on Thursday as he faced questions from state prosecutor Surekha Marimuthu in a bid to ask the court to consider his bail application. It was revealed that one of the 29-year-old’s businesses had been in hot water with the Department of Environment and Water Affairs in November last year.
A large part of Thursday’s proceedings dealt with the Assagay resident’s businesses, of which he has two, worth R4-million collectively. He is also a director in another business, a logistics company.
Marimuthu handed over allegations made by a member of the Department of Environmental Affiars over complaints that employees of his business had allegedly been dumping toxic materials into a river.
The accused, again dressed smartly in a suit, disputed the allegations alleging the government official did not understand his line of work.
Read also: ‘The State has a weak case against me’ Siam Lee accused
He further alleged the department was ‘harassing his staff’.
Marimuthu said the accused would be facing a summons for the matter from the department.
The bail application, which could not be concluded, will now take place next month. Magistrate Mohamed Motala set aside 17, 19 and 20 April to deal with the matter.
On Wednesday, the accused asked the court to consider granting him bail of R10 000 saying his businesses would suffer financially if he could not attend to them. He also said his younger brother’s education would also suffer without him as a breadwinner.
The accused told the court he intended to plead not guilty to the 16 charges he faces.
Read also: Siam Lee laid to rest in private ceremony
He has been remanded in custody at Westville Prison.
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