The high court trial of two men accused of manufacturing and exporting components that may be used in the manufacturing of nuclear weapons has been delayed because of one of the accused’s poor health.
Prosecutor Chris Macadam told Judge Joop Labuschagne that the state was ready to proceed with the trial, but had been informed by counsel for the 67-year-old Daniel Geiges that he would not be able to stand trial for the next eight months.
Geiges, a Swiss citizen, has colon cancer. He will have to be examined by a medical expert, whose report will determine the way in which the state handles the case in future.
The trial was provisionally postponed to September 4.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Tlali Tlai said Geiges may not be able to attend the proceedings, which may affect the duration of the trial.
Judge Labuschagne last month dismissed an application by the NPA to ban the media and public from the trial, but said the state would be entitled to bring further applications to have some of the evidence heard in camera.
The prosecution maintained some of the evidence, if given in an open court, could endanger national security.
The court earlier noted that Geiges and German businessman Gerhard Wisser (66) denied guilt on the charges against them.
The accused, who both have South African citizenship, face charges relating to the contravention of the Nuclear Energy Act and the law banning proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as fraud and forgery relating to the importing of nuclear equipment into South Africa.
They are also charged in their capacity as directors of Randburg engineering company Krisch Engineering.
The state alleges they were involved in the import and export of a controlled flow-forming lathe, as well as the production and possession of components associated with a centrifuge-enrichment plant, without the necessary authorisation.
Their activities were allegedly intended to assist in the now-abandoned nuclear weapons programme of the Libyan government, and formed part of an international nuclear smuggling network linked to Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. — Sapa