The trial of Swiss design engineer Daniel Geiges, who was allegedly part of an international nuclear smuggling ring, was postponed on Friday because he is too ill to stand trial.
The court was told that Geiges (69) had been diagnosed with cancer of the rectum and was undergoing ”severe treatment”. A medical report stated he was at present unfit to stand trial or prepare for his hearing.
His former co-accused and boss, German engineer Gerhard Wisser, was on September 4 sentenced to three years’ correctional supervision and a suspended 18-year jail term in terms of a plea bargain.
He also agreed to the confiscation of R6-million in cash in South Africa and to assist the National Prosecuting Authority to repatriate €2,8-million in assets already seized by German authorities.
He will be confined to house arrest for the next three years and will have to do community service and undergo ”responsibility acceptance and reality confrontation” programmes.
Wisser also agreed to cooperate with the South African police, the Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and the International Atomic Energy Agency. In addition, he will testify in other proceedings, including, possibly, the trail of Geiges, who has steadfastly denied guilt.
Wisser was the MD of Randburg engineering company Krisch Engineering, and Geiges was his chief engineer. — Sapa