Alleged baby snatcher seeks to amend bail conditions for religious excursion

Alleged baby snatcher, Sameemah Jacobs dropped a bombshell during her appearance at the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, when indicated she would be making an application to amend her bail conditions in order to be part of a religious excursion.

The State is set to prove that Jacobs kidnapped Imaad Sharmar from his mother, Imaan Sharmar at Middestad Mall in Bellville in June under the pretence that she was a volunteer for an NPO.

Jacobs appeared confident and chirpy in the dock dressed in a pardah and Islamic top.

The infant’s family has since called for the application to be opposed.

The state prosecutor Salaahudeen Simon informed the court that Jacobs' legal aid practitioner was not present due to a car accident.

Simon said in hindsight that they were waiting for cellphone analysis, forensic analysis and witness statements to be completed, they would request the matter to be postponed for further investigation.

Simon then requested that the magistrate remind Jacobs of her strict bail conditions which refrains her from visiting Mitchells Plain and Strandfontein.

When asked if she understood what had been communicated, Jacobs took the opportunity to state that she wanted to submit affidavits.

This she said was for an application to amend her bail conditions, in order to attend a religious excursion between November 2 and November 6.

Details of this has yet to be revealed once the application is officially submitted.

"I came to find out who will be representing me (legal aid lawyer),” she explained.

“I want to amend my bail conditions because between November 2 and November 6, I want to attend a religious excursion, even if that can happen before November 2 (for it to be granted)."

The magistrate informed Jacobs that her legal aid lawyer was ill following a motor vehicle accident and that this could only be heard on October 21. 

“Like I said I did speak with the legal aid, and I requested an affidavit and I thought that I will be represented here in the court but unfortunately they are not here so I must wait until next week," she added.

Jacobs was granted bail in July of R4000.

Outside court, Imaad Sharmar told Cape Argus she stood against her request.

“I am so mind-blown that she can get to request things and that it can even be considered, it does not make sense,” she said in tears.

“I feel so uneasy and emotional and it is something that I have been struggling with.

"When I go to the shops, I panic when I see someone with a pardah because I have never seen her face.”

The state is also awaiting CCTV footage which could mean a second case against Jacobs after a 15-year-old pregnant girl came forward that she had allegedly been approached by a woman named Wasiema and Chevon.

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