ARMED robbery accused Bongani Moyo and his three accomplices will only attend court proceedings via a video link from prison to prevent escape.
Moyo, his co-accused Khumbulani Sibanda, Thabane Sibanda and Leon Ncube appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court yesterday, where they communicated with court officials via TV screens in the court room.
Moyo made headlines when he leisurely walked out of the holding cells at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court in August after appearing in court for a bail application.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said yesterday the four would no longer come to court for security reasons.
"Moyo is prone to escape and we cannot take any chances. This will apply to all potential escapees and high-risk suspects," he said.
After magistrate Maryke de la Rey postponed the case, Moyo, a Zimbabwean citizen, raised his hand and said that he wanted to lodge a complaint about the leg irons he was made to wear all the time.
"Prison officials are always keeping me in chains, even as we speak I am chained up. I want them to remove them," Moyo said.
De la Rey told the alleged gang leader that he would have to consult with his legal aid representative who would make an application to the prison officials.
"The officials will decide whether or not to remove them," she said.
The case was postponed to December 13 for further investigations.
Moyo and his co-accused are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of unlicensed firearms after being arrested for a robbery that was committed at Standard Bank in Hatfield, Pretoria, on April 19 when R30000 was stolen.
Moyo will face two more charges of escaping from lawful custody.
Prosecutors said more charges would be added, as Moyo's gang could be linked to more than 35 bank robberies.
Moyo first escaped from the Boksburg prison in March this year and was rearrested at the Beitbridge border post in Musina on May 12, before his infamous court escape in Pretoria.
He was re-arrested on August 28 in Hillbrow.
'Robbers' to be tried through video link
ARMED robbery accused Bongani Moyo and his three accomplices will only attend court proceedings via a video link from prison to prevent escape.
Moyo, his co-accused Khumbulani Sibanda, Thabane Sibanda and Leon Ncube appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court yesterday, where they communicated with court officials via TV screens in the court room.
Moyo made headlines when he leisurely walked out of the holding cells at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court in August after appearing in court for a bail application.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said yesterday the four would no longer come to court for security reasons.
"Moyo is prone to escape and we cannot take any chances. This will apply to all potential escapees and high-risk suspects," he said.
After magistrate Maryke de la Rey postponed the case, Moyo, a Zimbabwean citizen, raised his hand and said that he wanted to lodge a complaint about the leg irons he was made to wear all the time.
"Prison officials are always keeping me in chains, even as we speak I am chained up. I want them to remove them," Moyo said.
De la Rey told the alleged gang leader that he would have to consult with his legal aid representative who would make an application to the prison officials.
"The officials will decide whether or not to remove them," she said.
The case was postponed to December 13 for further investigations.
Moyo and his co-accused are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of unlicensed firearms after being arrested for a robbery that was committed at Standard Bank in Hatfield, Pretoria, on April 19 when R30000 was stolen.
Moyo will face two more charges of escaping from lawful custody.
Prosecutors said more charges would be added, as Moyo's gang could be linked to more than 35 bank robberies.
Moyo first escaped from the Boksburg prison in March this year and was rearrested at the Beitbridge border post in Musina on May 12, before his infamous court escape in Pretoria.
He was re-arrested on August 28 in Hillbrow.
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