Underworld accused Russol is denied bail

EXTORTION accused Igor “the Russian” Russol was denied bail in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday because it was ruled that he could endanger the public or intimidate witnesses if released.

Russol, the best friend of slain underworld figure Yuri “the Russian” Ulianitski, who has been in custody since February 2, was remanded to prison until his next court appearance.

He is charged with intimidation, extortion to the value of R730 000 and theft to the value of R250 000.

It is alleged that between late 2010 and early last year, Russol intimidated and threatened city businessmen into giving him money and a luxury vehicle – a silver Porsche Cayenne.

In an affidavit, Russol denied the charges and from the information contained in it, it appeared he was the victim of a business deal gone awry.

Yesterday, while handing down his bail ruling, magistrate Jasthree Steyn said he first had to clarify whether Russol was charged with schedule five or schedule one offences.

The State had argued he was accused of schedule five offence, serious offences where the onus was on Russol’s defence team to prove that it was in the interests of justice to release him from custody.

But Russol’s defence had disagreed, saying the offences he faced were schedule one, a less serious category requiring the State to prove that he should be detained.

Steyn ruled Russol was charged with schedule five offences. He said Russol had supplied an affidavit detailing his personal circumstances and a response to the allegations against him, while Hawks investigator Kenneth Speed had supplied a summary of the State’s case.

“From the evidence before me, I’m satisfied the State has a prima facie case,” Steyn said.

During Russol’s bail hearing last week, Speed said Russol allegedly used Ulianitski’s name when intimidating businessmen, and in one case arrived at a businessman’s premises with four armed men.

While outlining reasons why Russol should not be released on bail, Speed had referred to two articles published in the Cape Times on January 16, based on an interview with Russol in which he had outlined how he had stepped into Ulianitski’s shoes since his murder and how there was a continuing power struggle for city resources.

Speed had said these articles showed Russol posed a danger to the public, had a blatant disregard for the law and had no problems in publicising his position in “the so-called ‘criminal underworld’”.

Yesterday, Steyn said while newspaper articles were not usually admissible in court, a more relaxed set of rules applied to bail applications and he would allow this evidence.

Steyn ruled that should Russol be released on bail, he could endanger the public or an individual, as well as intimidate or influence witnesses.

Russol is expected back in court on March 13. This is the same date his two co-accused, Kevin Mark Bailey and Simon Scott, who were both previously granted bail, are expected back in the dock.