THE state will oppose bail for a foul- mouthed Port Elizabeth caretaker allegedly caught transporting 120kg of perlemoen on Tuesday evening.
Mike van Niekerk, 60, is back behind bars, just a month after he was found guilty of crimen injuria, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and reckless and negligent driving.
Last month, Van Niekerk was sentenced to a fine after he called a black traffic officer a k****r, before pepper spraying him.
On Tuesday, he was nabbed in Marine Drive, near Cape Recife, with perlemoen worth an estimated R360000. He allegedly tried to flee on foot.
He appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court yesterday where the matter was postponed to today for a date to be arranged for a formal bail application. He was remanded.
Van Niekerk faces a charge of illegal possession of perlemoen. – Kathryn Kimberley