Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

Four high-profile police officers being detained on drug charges say a magistrate erred in ruling that they might abscond if released on bail.

The four officers from the Krugersdorp organised crime unit have filed papers in the South Gauteng high court to appeal against a Roodepoort magistrate's decision that they should remain in custody until the end of their trial.

Senior Superintendent Dumisani Jwara, head of the unit, and captains Landro Mokgosani, Caiphus Shange and Victor Jwili are awaiting a court date for their application to be heard.

Magistrate Delise Smit denied the four bail after finding that they might tamper with investigations if they were granted bail.

"It is disturbing to this court that the state said the case was top secret but the applicants knew about it. The accused have strong bases to get information. They have people who are well positioned.

They knew about their warrants of arrest being issued while the commander didn't know," the magistrate said.

Shange and Makgosani are now being represented by attorney Nardus Grove, who hadpreviously only represented Jwara and Jwili.