File: The CEO of real estate chain Sotheby's International Realty, Jason Rohde, enters the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court to face a charge of murder. He is being allowed to return to his Randburg home until his next appearance in January.
JOHANNESBURG - Real estate executive Jason Rohde will be allowed to return to his Johannesburg home, according to a ruling by magistrate Greg Jacobs on Friday.
His request to be relocated, while out on bail, was granted in the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court today.
Rohde is accused of strangling his wife, Susan, to death at the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch two months ago.
Rohde then found himself in yet another sticky situation, about his citizenship and nationality. It has emerged that Rohde had applied for dual South African-Australian citizenship, without the necessary permission from authorities.
Home Affairs is investigating.
In an affidavit read out in court, Rohde's lawyers argued for his relocation to his home in Johannesburg so that he could care for his children.
The state countered that the children were all in boarding school and essentially did not need him to be home.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila also opposed the request, saying: "There is an issue around his passport. His South African passport indicates that he was born in South Africa but we all know he was born in the UK. Home Affairs is still busy with that investigation as well as other investigations surrounding his other passports.
"It's a different process that Home Affairs is carrying on but obviously that process will have an impact or influence on the bail conditions of the accused."
But Magistrate Greg Jacobs granted the request, warning Rohde to return to court in January.
Rohde's bail of R1.1-million has since been extended.
Susan Rohde was found dead in the bathroom of their Spier hotel room in July. The couple had been attending a Sotheby's annual conference.
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