Bail bungle frees Durban murder suspect

A suspected murderer was mistakenly released by a Durban Magistrate's Court clerk after he was denied bail, The Mercury reported on Monday.

Lebo Sibisi, 29, was denied bail on January 23 because of the seriousness of the charges against him, but his J7 form stated he had been granted R5000 bail.

A J7 form reflects whether a person has been refused or granted bail.

Sibisi and his co-accused Khehla Calvin Mthalane, 27, were charged with murder with aggravating circumstances. They allegedly killed John Dwain Naidoo, 31, during a robbery at his home in Glenwood in September last year. At the time Sibisi was out on parole after serving part of his sentence for other offences.

"The preliminary investigation was done. It was discovered that accused one (Sibisi) was refused bail and accused two (Mthalane) was granted bail and, when issuing the J7, the court clerk issued two J7s with fixed bail of R5000 each, instead of one," Durban Magistrate's Court manager Victor Hlatshwayo was quoted as saying by The Mercury.

A warrant of arrest has been issued for Sibisi.