Mandla Lamba's attorney has demanded to know why his client is always in shackles

Paul Ndala asked the prosecutor to explain why Lamba, 25, was always shackled when he appeared in court.

"I would like the state to clarify this. Is my client a flight risk? Has he ever escaped from custody? This is something I've noticed that every time he appears in court, he's always in shackles," Ndala said.

The prosecutor, only known by his surname Mohapi, replied: "He is a flight risk. He has many cases against him. It would be a risk to have him walk freely."

Earlier this month, magistrate Anton le Roux denied Lamba bail because he was a flight risk. Le Roux also labelled Lamba a liar.

Le Roux was not in court yesterday and presiding officer Itumeleng Bapepile advised Ndala to make an application with Le Roux.

Lamba allegedly swindled taxi owners of thousands of rands with the promise that he would get them new vehicles. It is alleged that he approached several taxi owners and promised to help them acquire new taxis, provided they deposited R40000 into his bank account.

After the money was deposited, the victims never got their vehicles. Lamba disappeared and the owners opened cases of fraud and theft in 2008.

He absconded when the case was in its final stages.

Police said Lamba was also involved in a freak car accident in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, in 2007. Wayne Greeff and his 8-year-old son Brandon were killed in the crash.

Lamba was charged with culpable homicide but again absconded when the case was about to be finalised. He has a warrant of arrest pending against him for the case.

Mohapi requested that the case be postponed to July 29. "Investigations in this case have not yet been completed," he said.

Ndala had initially wanted the case to be postponed to next week.

"I have requested certain information from the state but have been informed that they may not be in a position to provide me with that information due to the complexity of the matter and the number of dockets," he said.