FRIDAY, 5.30PM:
THE Mozambican judge handling the case of detained foreign affairs official Robert McBride has been threatened by people he believes to be South African agents who have ordered him to nail McBride or ”otherwise you’ll be in trouble”.
A reliable source has informed the Mail & Guardian that Judge Carlos Caetano, who has been criticised for inexplicable delays in his handling of the case, has confided in McBride’s legal team about telephone calls by ”Afrikaners” warning him to secure a conviction against McBride. As a result of the threats he has stopped driving his own car and is being transported by colleagues in Maputo.
The judge’s confession was made this week as the charge sheet against McBride — who has been detained for more than 40 weeks — was redrawn to include charges of espionage, and expunge references to the left-wing conspiracy to overthrow the African National Congress government that formed tha basis of earlier charges, and to the discredited Meiring report.
Superintendent ”Lappies” Labuschagne, withdrawn from the case after his involvement in alleged human rights violations during the apartheid era came to light, was seen at the Mozambican attorney-general’s office two weeks ago. He has also been spotted at the South African High Commission’s offices in Maputo.