KNYSNA NEWS - Three suspects appeared briefly in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 11 January in connection with dog fighting.
The trio from Flenters, White Location were charged on four counts of cruelty to animals, in terms of the Animal Protection Act.
Evidence so far reveals that they were implicated in the organised fighting involving four dogs, one of which died from its injuries on the night of Wednesday 10 January, while the other dogs are now in the care of Knysna Animal Welfare.
After reading the charges to the accused, public prosecutor Linden Windvogel said the state is not opposed to giving the suspects bail, but under two conditions: “That they cannot have any animals in their care – if they can’t take care of dogs they can’t take care of any animal – and the second condition is that they should not instigate or be involved in any way with animal fights and should they fail to comply, they will be kept in custody until their case is concluded.”
Windvogel asked that the case be postponed to 12 February for further investigation. “We’re still waiting for information from the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA),” he said.
The suspects’ defence attorney from Legal, Aid Shaun Jacobs, agreed to the conditions.
Magistrate Zolelwa Nomzaza asked the defence how much the suspects could afford to pay for their bail and Jacobs advised the court they could each pay R500.
Nomzaza read the conditions again and added, “You are to remain in custody until you pay bail and should you not obey the conditions you will be arrested.”
The suspects names are Sidina Mbhinqo (41), Jason Smit (19) and Tolani Honono (20).
Read more about this in next week’s Knysna Plett Herald, and online.
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