‘Angry’ Magashule frustrated by asbestos trial delays
A visibly frustrated Ace Magashule has lamented the delays in the graft case against him, after the trial was postponed until January next year.
Magashule stands accused alongside more than 10 others, including controversial businessman Edwin Sodi, over the R255 million Free State asbestos roof project.
The former premier’s personal assistant had all charges against her withdrawn after the court found that her extradition from the US was unlawful.
Moroadi Cholota was initially tipped to be a state witness but was later added to the accused persons list when she allegedly refused to cooperate with investigators.
Speaking to the SABC after Wednesday’s proceedings, Magashule repeated his assertion that he is eager to take the stand and prove his innocence.
“[The state] is playing games. They know that they don’t have a case, and they are still going to be embarrassed. You will see, we are ready to embarrass the state.”
‘WE ARE NOT FOOLS’
He insists that the testimony by the investigating officer who interviewed Cholota in the US in 2021 is false.
The IO told the court that the interview recordings were not available because the recorder they were using did not work.
“They know what is not that record. There’s nothing like ‘when we left here, our records were working’, then when they arrived there, the recorder doesn’t work. We are not fools.
It emerged in court on Wednesday that the state is considering whether the case can be joined with the Schultz matter in the Constitutional Court.
The possible application for leave to appeal the Bloemfontein High Court's decision to release Cholota from the Free State asbestos corruption trial has been postponed to 13 June.
This concerns a Supreme Court of Appeals ruling that only the Justice Minister has the authority to request an extradition.
The National Prosecuting Authority's spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, explained: “The application for leave to appeal the Schultz judgment in the Constitutional Court has been filed, and we are now engaging with the respondent’s attorneys to see if we can get the directives from the Chief Justice.”
The state maintains that it believes that there is a case that Cholota must answer.
