Alleged meth (tik) “cook” Kingsley Obi Udeobi, 31, was denied bail in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
He was allegedly found with 35kg of processed and unprocessed drugs worth R70-million last month.
He was arrested in a Belgravia flat by members of the Hawks’ narcotics enforcement bureau.
They allegedly also found him in possession of equipment used to manufacture the drugs.
In denying him bail, court magistrate Robyn Tyler said: “The court has to consider whether there is likelihood that , if released on bail will commit an offence or offences.
“ Captain Raymond Buys believes the applicant is involved in an ongoing operation of manufacturing and selling illegal substances and if released on bail will continue to do this.”
Tyler said although Udeobi had no previous convictions or pending cases, it should be taken into account that the charge he faced did not consist of a single incident.
“He is linked to the manufacturing of the tik. This takes place over a period of time.
“The large amount of tik – namely 100kg of processed tik and 5kg of unprocessed tik) found in his motor vehicle and his garage do indicate an ongoing operation.
“The amount of money to be made in the selling of the tik and the alleged experience that the applicant in this regard has, and the scale of the entire operation that he is linked to all can be regarded as motivating factors to continue with a similar type of operation.
“Based on this, the court does find that there is a likelihood that the applicant, if released on bail will continue to be involved in the manufacturing and sale of the tik or other illegal substances,” Tyler said.
The magistrate continued: “The court further takes into account that there is evidence of a link between the Vincent Heights house where the manufacturing of this tik occurred to Mr James Ifenatuora.
“It follows that the applicant is linked, by the nature of the evidence against him regarding this house, to Mr James Ifenatuora.
“Ifenatuora was released on bail with stringent conditions before there was any evidence of his link to the Vincent Heights house.
“He was released on bail in regard to a charge of drugs found at a house in Amalinda.
“Once knowledge of the Vincent Heights house came to light he must have been aware of his link to this house which neither the investigating officer, nor the state, nor the court had knowledge of.
“Despite stringent bail conditions he has evaded his court appearances and there is a warrant out against him. If the applicant is linked to the same network that Mr Ifenatuora has at his disposal and has effectively disappeared then there is likelihood the applicant also has the same resources at his disposal to also evade standing his trial, even where stringent bail conditions are set.”
Tyler concluded it would not be in the interest of justice for Udeobi to be released on bail. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
No bail for ‘tik cook’ accused with Vincent Heights link
He was allegedly found with 35kg of processed and unprocessed drugs worth R70-million last month.
He was arrested in a Belgravia flat by members of the Hawks’ narcotics enforcement bureau.
They allegedly also found him in possession of equipment used to manufacture the drugs.
In denying him bail, court magistrate Robyn Tyler said: “The court has to consider whether there is likelihood that , if released on bail will commit an offence or offences.
“ Captain Raymond Buys believes the applicant is involved in an ongoing operation of manufacturing and selling illegal substances and if released on bail will continue to do this.”
Tyler said although Udeobi had no previous convictions or pending cases, it should be taken into account that the charge he faced did not consist of a single incident.
“He is linked to the manufacturing of the tik. This takes place over a period of time.
“The large amount of tik – namely 100kg of processed tik and 5kg of unprocessed tik) found in his motor vehicle and his garage do indicate an ongoing operation.
“The amount of money to be made in the selling of the tik and the alleged experience that the applicant in this regard has, and the scale of the entire operation that he is linked to all can be regarded as motivating factors to continue with a similar type of operation.
“Based on this, the court does find that there is a likelihood that the applicant, if released on bail will continue to be involved in the manufacturing and sale of the tik or other illegal substances,” Tyler said.
The magistrate continued: “The court further takes into account that there is evidence of a link between the Vincent Heights house where the manufacturing of this tik occurred to Mr James Ifenatuora.
“It follows that the applicant is linked, by the nature of the evidence against him regarding this house, to Mr James Ifenatuora.
“Ifenatuora was released on bail with stringent conditions before there was any evidence of his link to the Vincent Heights house.
“He was released on bail in regard to a charge of drugs found at a house in Amalinda.
“Once knowledge of the Vincent Heights house came to light he must have been aware of his link to this house which neither the investigating officer, nor the state, nor the court had knowledge of.
“Despite stringent bail conditions he has evaded his court appearances and there is a warrant out against him. If the applicant is linked to the same network that Mr Ifenatuora has at his disposal and has effectively disappeared then there is likelihood the applicant also has the same resources at his disposal to also evade standing his trial, even where stringent bail conditions are set.”
Tyler concluded it would not be in the interest of justice for Udeobi to be released on bail. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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