British fugitive Callum Gower made a dramatic appearance in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where it emerged that his Interpol arrest warrant had mysteriously vanished.
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Adding to the intrigue, his arrest at his opulent R150,000 per month residence was contested as ‘unlawful.’
According to TimesLIVE, the accused returned to the dock and smiled at a family member in the gallery.
Gower (27) was apprehended at his residence in Constantia on 26 January.
He faces charges including possession of an imitation firearm with intent to instil fear of violence, assault resulting in bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon in a public area.
These allegations stem from an incident at a community fair on Fish Market Road, Rye, East Sussex, in May 2014.
A second set of charges pertains to offences allegedly committed in 2016 and 2017, involving his purported involvement in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances classified as class A and B drugs.
Gower requested bail of R200,000 but was denied, with the state arguing he is a ‘flight risk’.
The court heard that Gower’s arrest warrant required authorisation by a magistrate upon receiving an affidavit from Interpol seeking his arrest.
The state claimed the affidavit was presented, leading to the issuance of the warrant. However, Gower’s attorney, Bruce Hendrick, requested the affidavit from the state but did not receive it.
The state requested a copy of the affidavit from Interpol, but Interpol stated they did not possess it. They then asked the magistrate to provide the documents to Hendricks.
The court heard that an affidavit challenging the ‘unlawful arrest’ of Gower may be filed once the Interpol affidavit is obtained.
Hendricks told TimesLIVE on Friday, ‘We will proceed with his bail appeal and once we get that affidavit, we are moving to have his arrest declared [invalid] and will have our client released.’
‘The issue of the missing affidavit we will deal with once we know what exactly happened there,’ said Hendricks.
The case was adjourned until July 18 to obtain the arrest warrant.
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Picture: Interpol HQ/Facebook