Church Leader Accused of Bribing Judge Denied Bail, Will Spend Christmas in Jail

International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC) leader Bhekumzi Mike Sandlana, accused of bribing High Court Judge Portia Phahlane, will spend Christmas in jail after the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court denied his bail application. Magistrate Nica Setshogoe ruled that Sandlana failed to prove exceptional circumstances warranting his release, dismissing his claims of life-threatening medical conditions as insufficient grounds for bail.

Sandlana, 64, faces charges of bribing Judge Phahlane for a favorable judgment in a church succession battle. He will remain in custody at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility. Setshogoe stated that while acknowledging Sandlana’s ailments, there was no evidence the facility could not manage his condition.

News24 previously reported on the intense litigation over church properties and assets, with Sandlana allegedly bribing Phahlane to secure a favorable ruling that would cement his claim to leadership of the influential church. Sandlana is charged with corruption alongside Phahlane, her son Kagiso, and church spokesperson Vusi Ndala, who allegedly played a role in paying Phahlane more than R2 million in kickbacks. Ndala and others were released on bail.

Sandlana’s case relied on Dr Aluwani Confidence Sebata, whom he claimed had been his family doctor since 2018, alleging he suffered from asthma, constipation, haemorrhoids, PTSD, acute anaemia, vitiligo, fainting, migraines, spine and back pain. Based on these claims, an urgent application was made at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria for Sandlana to apply for bail on an urgent medical basis, days before his formal hearing at the Special Commercial Crimes Court.

The State previously argued that Sandlana’s medical claims were “exaggerated and overplayed,” describing them as a manufactured emergency designed to secure release. However, Setshogoe noted contradictions in the medical timeline, with Sandlana claiming he “started feeling unwell” on 27 November while Sebata’s affidavit stated the ailment occurred on 28 November.

Setshogoe found multiple other factors weighed against Sandlana’s release, including his potential risk of avoiding trial. The court heard evidence of multiple birth certificates bearing different birth dates: 29 February 1969 (an impossible date as 1969 wasn’t a leap year), 15 February 1966, and 15 February 1961. Setshogoe also considered evidence that potential witnesses had “indicated clearly that there are th

[Source excerpt truncated for local AI.]

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