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Selebi trial could face lengthy postponement

ADRIAAN BASSON | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Nov 24 2009 16:18
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The corruption trial of former top cop Jackie Selebi could be postponed for three to four months after a ruling by Judge Meyer Joffe to allow the former coordinator of intelligence, Barry Gilder, to testify.

After Joffe's ruling in the state's favour that Gilder may testify, albeit in camera, senior counsel Marumo Moerane, representing Gilder and Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele, objected to the evidence being led, saying that he would have to take further instructions from Cwele.

Moerane earlier told the court that intelligence legislation specifically excludes former intelligence operatives from disclosing "any information to any person".

Moerane asked for a postponement until next week Tuesday, when he will tell the court what Cwele's approach is. He could decide to take Joffe's ruling on review, which may lead to the postponement of the entire case for three to four months.

This, Selebi counsel Jaap Cilliers told the court, may lead to the state only closing its case in March or April next year. "If the state then closes its case, they will only make available to us the 60 or so state witnesses [that were not called to testify] and I may ask for a further postponement to consult with them."

Joffe called the matter a "very unfortunate state of affairs" and asked both Cilliers and chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel to come to his chambers after court adjourned.

In his earlier ruling, Joffe dismissed concerns of Cwele and his director general, Jeff Maqetuka, that Gilder's evidence about a draft intelligence estimate will compromise South Africa's intelligence processes, methods or sources.

Drug dealer Glenn Agliotti earlier testified that Selebi allegedly showed him an intelligence document in which it was mentioned that the Kebble family paid Selebi.

The information found its way into a draft intelligence estimate, but Gilder subsequently apologised to Selebi and the information was excluded from the final estimate.

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Comments

GREAT, Thats is just what we need, another R50 million tax flushed down the old tube.
Apocalypse Now on November 24, 2009, 4:44 pm
My question is why did Gilder find it necessary to apologise to Selebi? What does that say about the effectiveness of procedural oversight in the intelligence community, when the chairman of the top intelligence structure in the country deems it necessary to grovel apologies to a subordinate intel structures. Which begs the question, ala oom Kastrils "Who Guards the Gaurds?"

What a farce!
Oh my word! on November 25, 2009, 9:37 am
Gerrie Nel is hellbent on taking revenge on Selebi. He did not prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt.
nkosi sikelele on November 25, 2009, 10:07 am
Is there no end to the incompetence of this prosecutor? Where did he get this evidence from? at the moment only two parties know about this, the DSO(Scorpions)and the lying rat Agliotti.
Nel is only too aware of the procedures governing state departments and if he had done his work he would have obtained the information that he seeks. without him showing that he tried to obtain this information through state channels shows that he is in breach of government legislation. Did he perhaps obtain this information from Dormehl and Sullivan? It sets precedence for anybody to gained classifiec information from the state!That then is subversion of the state. The judge should not allow this bumbling fool to withdraw this case. Justice should be done and Selebi should prove through his witnesses that indeed the Scorpions and the NPA are hanging out with criminals and subverting the state.
Karimi Esakala on November 25, 2009, 11:16 am
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