The Pretoria High Court has dismissed the bail appeal of International Pentecost Holiness Church leader, Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana (64).
International Pentecost Holiness Church boss Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana (64) will stay behind bars after his latest bid for freedom failed.
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The Jerusalem faction leader faces 19 corruption charges.
His appeal followed an unsuccessful bail bid that was dismissed by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 22 December.
It’s claimed that between 2021 and 2022, Sandlana made payments totalling about R2,4 million into various bank accounts in an alleged attempt to bribe Judge Portia Phahlane to rule in his favour in a bitter leadership battle.
The ongoing fight involves Sandlana and his alleged half-brothers, Leonard Modise and Tshepiso Modise.
All three claim to be the rightful heirs of their late dad, Glayton Modise’s church leadership throne.
In his bail appeal, Sandlana argued that the magistrate had erred in ruling that his release was not in the interests of justice.
His legal team told the court his possession of multiple identity documents was due to efforts to correct administrative errors for which he was not responsible.
They also argued that he was not a flight risk, pointing to his leadership role in the church, ownership of multiple properties and strong ties to South Africa.
However, state advocates Phumla Dwane and Willem van Zyl opposed the appeal.
They argued that Sandlana posed a serious flight risk because of the multiple identity documents in his possession and his alleged ability to travel outside the country without using a passport.
The state further said Sandlana allegedly committed the current offences while out on bail in another matter before the Pretoria Magistrates Court.
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The High Court agreed with the state, finding that Sandlana failed to convince the court that granting him bail would be in the interests of justice.
The bail appeal was dismissed. The matter involving Sandlana and his four co-accused will return to the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
