The fraud and corruption trial of former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni and businessman Michael Woerfel appears set to get underway on Thursday — 16 months after their arrest.
Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court magistrate Bill Moyses turned down an application by Yengeni on Wednesday for yet another postponement to allow him to find new legal representation.
This means that Yengeni may have no choice but to conduct his own defence. Yengeni asked for the delay after his latest legal team withdrew and the possibility of a settlement agreement with the State fell through. He said he also needed time to secure the money needed to pay for new counsel.
Moyses, however, ruled the politician had reasonable opportunities to obtain legal representation. A further postponement would be a ”gross injustice”, he said.
The magistrate let the matter stand down until Thursday morning for the State to provide Yengeni with all relevant documentation.
Yengeni faces a charge of corruption for allegedly buying a luxury 4X4 Mercedes at a 47% discount in return for using his influence to ”market” the products of Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG or Daimler-Benz Aerospace SA.
He faces an alternative count of fraud for failing to disclose the benefit to Parliament. Woerfel, then head of Daimler-Benz’s Pretoria representative office, is charged with corruption for allegedly arranging the car deal.
Daimler-Benz was the manufacturer of the AT2000 — which was at the time being considered with two other light fighter aircraft in South Africa’s arms acquisition process.
Both men face a charge of fraud for alleged false representations made in the agreement of sale drawn up for the car deal.
They have pleaded not guilty.
The men first appeared in court in October 2001. The matter has since been postponed numerous times. – Sapa