Former African National Congress Chief Whip Tony Yengeni and businessman Michael Woerfel are to stand trial on charges of corruption and fraud after the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on Monday dismissed their objections to the charge sheet.
Magistrate Bill Moyses said he was satisfied the charge sheet disclosed specific offences.
The charges against the men relate to a 47% discount Yengeni received when he bought a luxury Mercedes Benz 4X4 in a deal apparently organised by Woerfel — then managing director of European Aeronautic Defence Systems (Eads).
The State alleged Yengeni received the vehicle with the intention to ”use his power or exercise his influence to influence the arms acquisitions process” in favour of Ead’s predecessor Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG or DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG.
Yengeni was chairman of Parliament’s joint standing committee on defence at the time.
He is also charged with violating a parliamentary code of conduct as an alternative charge to the main count of corruption.
Yengeni objected to the main charge, saying the State had failed to prove he had committed or omitted any act using his parliamentary powers in order to receive any benefit.
The charge sheet did not contain sufficient particulars to sustain a corruption charge or a conviction, he said. – Sapa