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The Wynberg Magistrate's Court has denied bail for alleged Umrah swindler and owner of New Travel Agency, Shahied Davids.
Davids is accused of stealing from travellers who had paid him upwards of R50 000 for holy pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Davids was denied bail after he appeared before the court on Friday.
News24 previously reported that pilgrims had been left stranded at the Cape Town Airport in December last year after Davids had failed to pay for their tickets.
READ | Travellers stranded and heartbroken after alleged theft of money meant for holy pilgrimage
While Davids has maintained his innocence and said that "shortfall" with the agency's ticketing agent led to the event, sources confirmed to News24 that rumours about Davids had allegedly been involved in dody travel dealings for year.
He was arrested at the Cape Town Airport on 15 January for theft under false pretenses.
The matter has been postponed to 31 January.