There was joy when four men accused of gang-raping an 18-year-old Lentegeur boy were denied bail in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court.
Ashley Titus, 25, Yasien Sedick, 42, Rimeez Martin, 22, and Joshua Booysen, 21, looked disappointed after they were told they would remain in jail until the trial against them is concluded.
The four are accused of brutally raping, torturing and stabbing a teenager after kidnapping him early in June.
The boy had been able to take police to the homes of his alleged attackers to identify them.
He was kidnapped while walking home and dragged into a hokkie in one of their yards where he was repeatedly raped, and threatened with death.
A community worker and the detective on
the case were also threatened at court by relatives of one of the accused.
The investigating officer said if the accused were released on bail, their lives would be in danger as community members had threatened to kill them.
RELIEF: Victim’s mom and her supporters celebrate the ruling.
According to the magistrate, Martin, Sedick and Titus have previous convictions which include theft and the possession of drugs.
Booysen has a clean record, while none of the accused had any pending cases.
The magistrate said the crime is a schedule 6 offence (which carries a sentence of life in prison).
“There is evidence that their lives are threatened and that the victim will
be in danger should the accused be released on bail. Bail is denied in respect of all four accused,” he proclaimed.
Outside court, supporters of the victim’s mother celebrated with tears in their eyes.
“I think maybe now I can breathe a little easier.
“They hurt my child really badly and they need to pay,” said the mother.
The matter has been postponed to 13 November for further investigation.