FRIDAY, 1.00PM
THE Lagal Aid Board says it will rescind its decision to withdraw assistance to Allan Boasak, and will give him an opportunity to make representations about future aid.
The decision came after an urgent application to the Pretoria High Court by Boesak on Thursday, in which he challenged the board’s August 11 decision to withdraw legal aid after Boesak raised other funds to employ senior advocate Mike Maritz to defend him on fraud charges against him.
Thursday’s application was not argued by the parties. Instead, Boesak accepted the board’s offer to rescind the decision and to convene a meeting forthwith where Boesak can make representations about why legal aid should not be withdrawn.
THURSDAY, 4.00PM
ALLAN BOESAK, former head of the now defunct Foundation for Peace and Justice, made a suprise appearance in the Cape High Court on Thursday with his co-accused Freddie Steenkamp, the foundation’s former bookkeeper.
They were only due to appear in court on September 15, when counsel for Boesak intended bringing an application for their trials to be heard separately.
Cape Judge President Justice JG Friedman granted an application Boesak’s counsel to postpone the hearing to September 23. Prosecutor JC Gerber said the postponement was granted because some of the defence advocates will not be available on September 15.
Steenkamp and Boesak, who are facing 32 counts of theft and fraud involving nearly R9-million, have not yet pleaded to the charges.