Here’s a word of warning to any murderers looking for appeal or bail – if you must wear a chain, keep it on the inside. Two members of the ‘Waterkloof Four,’ Gert van Schalkwyk and Reinach Tiedt, were denied an application for leave to appeal against a previous ruling that they return to Zonderwater prison.

The pair, along with Christoff Becker and Frikkie du Preez were sentenced to 12 years in prison each for murdering a man in a Pretoria park in 2001, but only started serving their sentence in 2008 after another unsuccessful appeal.

Tiedt and Van Schalkwyk  have been under house arrest for just under two years and were given until noon next Monday to check back in to the Zonderwater Prison.

A social worker said that correctional supervision is a severe punishment, and Van Schalkwyk said in an affidavit that their private and business lives would be negatively affected if they returned to prison.

One of the judges who denied the appeal Judge Hans Fabricius said:

We are not concerned with possible exceptions relating to rehabilitation, family life, employment opportunities, et cetera. The law applies to all.

[Source: The Mail & Guardian]