A police representative on Thursday took to the witness stand in the High Court in Johannesburg in a bail application by three West Rand officers accused of smuggling drugs.

West Rand organised crime unit Senior Superintendent Dumisani Jwara (43) Captain Victor Jwili (38) and Captain Landro Mokgosani (39) are on trial on 13 drug-related charges.

A previous bail application was denied and an appeal against this ruling was dismissed.

The police representative was called to the stand to clarify whether the three would return to work if granted bail, as was stated by their defence attorney.

The court has adjourned pending the arrival of the witness.

Defence attorney Nardis Grove earlier told the court the officers were initially refused bail out of concern that they might interfere with witnesses.

Grove argued that this was no longer the case as the witnesses in question had already testified.

He further contended that the time frame for instituting disciplinary hearings against the three officers had lapsed, leaving them free to return to work if granted bail.

He told the court they had run out of funds for legal representation and would be able to raise the money they needed if they were able to return to work while on bail.