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Polokwane - Alleged wife killer Rameez Patel will have to spend nine more days in prison for another murder to which he has been linked, the Polokwane Magistrate's Court ruled on Monday.
Dressed in a blue and grey jersey and navy blue chinos, the Limpopo businessman showed visible signs of anger and frustration as he sat in the dock, at times shaking his head or looking down.
Patel was appearing for the murder of a man who was allegedly beaten to death with a hockey stick in 2013. He was arrested on Friday.
The State on Monday asked the court to postpone his formal bail application for seven days, as it needed time to consult with the director of public prosecutions about how to proceed with the case.
"It is only now that new evidence has come to light. This is still his first bail application. The State has the right to ask for a seven-day postponement.
"The State stands by its application due to the serious nature of the matter. New evidence came to light that links the accused directly to the crime that was committed."
Patel's lawyer, Tumi Mokoena, accused the State of "abusing the process" by keeping his client detained with no grounds.
"The State should not be granted this opportunity," he told the court.
"The right to bail is a constitutional right. The State needs to furnish the court with grounds. The director of public prosecutions does not grant bail, the court does."
Mokoena told the court that his client's brother had also been arrested for the same crime in 2013. He was later released and the matter was eventually withdrawn.
He argued that his client was already on bail for a separate matter.
Patel is accused of killing his wife, Fatima, earlier this year.
Mokoena said part of his client's bail conditions was to report to the police station three times a day, three times a week. The State was also already aware of his personal circumstances.
"Based on his current bail conditions, there can be no question on his current circumstances. The same investigating team which arrested him last week have his details.
"This case is said to be a case of murder committed in 2013. It is my humble submission that there is no fear that evidence will get lost.
"If at any stage there was a chance that information would get lost if he was out on bail, they would've got it by now."
Magistrate Ndivhuwo Munyane reprimanded the State for not getting instructions on the matter prior to arresting Patel for the crime.
"My understanding is that you had this information before he was arrested, why didn't the State clarify beforehand? I don't see why this must be delayed further on instructions you should have got before his arrest."
The matter was postponed to August 11 for a formal bail application.
