Patel’s bail conditions changed
Those present at the Polokwane magistrate's court on Tuesday were surprised to find that Rameez Patel (29) would find himself able to move more freely after magistrate Mohammed Shaik cancelled and or amended some of the bail conditions.
POLOKWANE – Those present at the Polokwane magistrate’s court on Tuesday were surprised to find that Rameez Patel (29), who is accused of the murder of his wife, Fatima (28) and was previously granted R250 000 bail with strict conditions attached, would find himself able to move more freely after magistrate Mohammed Shaik cancelled and or amended some of the bail conditions.
Patel was released early in June after he paid R250 000 bail. In addition, the court ordered that he report to the Westenburg police station three times a day while on bail. He was also told that he could not leave his place of residence without written permission of the investigating officer, Const David Nkuna, unless it was for the purpose of taking his son to school, going to work or reporting to the police station.
The court heard that Patel would live with his parents, Firoz and Mehjabeen during his bail period. He was also ordered not to contact any witnesses in the case, the names of whom would be supplied to him by the court.
But, in a whiplash turn-around, Shaik on Tuesday released Patel of some of the bail conditions and relaxed others.
This followed after Patel’s attorney, Tumi Mokwena, argued that Patel needed some of the bail conditions to be relaxed as they were denying him the opportunity to oversee his business.
Shaik then ruled that Patel would no longer have to report three times a day to the Westenburg police station, but rather once a day. He would also be allowed to travel to his business with the permission of the investigating officer.
Mokwena also requested the court to release the passports of Patel’s two children so that they could apply for visas for a trip to Jakarta in August.
“We request amendment of the bail conditions and that the court release the passports of the two children who will travel to Jakarta with their grandparents,” Mokwena said. He added that the trip had been set for Tuesday, August 11 to Saturday, August 22. This was granted temporarily and Shaik ordered that the passports be returned on Monday, August 24 and that Patel never be allowed to leave the Polokwane magisterial district without the knowledge of the investigating officer.
Shaik also ruled that Patel would be allowed to attend Muslim prayers in Thohoyandou on Friday.
The case was postponed to Tuesday, September 22 for further investigation.
Patel hearing: Evidence blooper
Rigor mortis advanced, court hears about Fatima Patel
‘Patel changed clothes 3 times that day’ Const David Nkuna
‘I didn’t kill my wife’ – Rameez Patel
