Court allows state capture suspect Eric Wood to travel to Europe
Wood, who is out on R250,000 bail, successfully applied on Wednesday to have his bail conditions relaxed
07 September 2022 - 13:55
by Isaac Mahlangu
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State capture accused Eric Wood is free to travel to Spain and the UK to visit his family, a Johannesburg court ruled on Wednesday.
Wood, who is out on R250,000 bail, successfully applied on Wednesday to have his bail conditions relaxed.
He will be allowed to travel abroad between September 10 and 20.
The state had opposed the application by Wood, who has dual SA-UK citizenship, saying there was a risk he could fail to return to SA to stand trial.
Magistrate Brian Nemavhidi ruled it was “mere speculation that if given his passports, he may not return”.
Nemavhidi said Wood knew for about four years he would be charged and had ample opportunity to leave the country if he had intentions of evading the trial.
The state had unsuccessfully argued that Wood had no family connection in SA and his assets were under restraint, while in Spain he had access to an investment worth €65,000 (about R1.1m).
Immediately after Nemavhidi delivered his judgment, the state, through advocate Peter Masiakwala, lodged another application.
It is asking that Wood be made to pay “insurance” of between R2.5m and R5m that would be forfeited to the state should he fail to return to SA.
Wood’s legal representative, advocate Estelle Killian, asked for an adjournment to consult Wood about that application.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Court allows state capture suspect Eric Wood to travel to Europe
Wood, who is out on R250,000 bail, successfully applied on Wednesday to have his bail conditions relaxed
State capture accused Eric Wood is free to travel to Spain and the UK to visit his family, a Johannesburg court ruled on Wednesday.
Wood, who is out on R250,000 bail, successfully applied on Wednesday to have his bail conditions relaxed.
He will be allowed to travel abroad between September 10 and 20.
The state had opposed the application by Wood, who has dual SA-UK citizenship, saying there was a risk he could fail to return to SA to stand trial.
Magistrate Brian Nemavhidi ruled it was “mere speculation that if given his passports, he may not return”.
Nemavhidi said Wood knew for about four years he would be charged and had ample opportunity to leave the country if he had intentions of evading the trial.
The state had unsuccessfully argued that Wood had no family connection in SA and his assets were under restraint, while in Spain he had access to an investment worth €65,000 (about R1.1m).
Immediately after Nemavhidi delivered his judgment, the state, through advocate Peter Masiakwala, lodged another application.
It is asking that Wood be made to pay “insurance” of between R2.5m and R5m that would be forfeited to the state should he fail to return to SA.
Wood’s legal representative, advocate Estelle Killian, asked for an adjournment to consult Wood about that application.
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