Police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s case has been transferred to the Johannesburg High Court for trial to begin on April 14 2009.
Randburg Magistrate Lalitha Chetty on Thursday turned down his lawyer’s objections against possible further delays and did not accede to the request that the matter be struck off the roll.
Selebi’s lawyer, Jaap Cilliers, earlier objected to the state’s request for a postponement to April 14.
”Our concern is based on the fact that the state is not in a position to proceed with trial,” said Cilliers, adding that the trial would probably be postponed again in April.
Cilliers asked that the case be removed from the roll, or alternatively, that it be postponed for three weeks until all the facts are established and it be referred to the judge president for a ruling.
He submitted that the state had yet to provide the defence team with the final dockets containing all the evidence of all the witnesses it intended calling.
This, despite several written requests.
Selebi first appeared in court on February 1 to face charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
The indictment presented alleged that this related to payments of about R1,2-million made to Selebi.
The state alleges that convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti, murdered mining entrepreneur Brett Kebble, former Hyundai boss and mining entrepreneur Billy Rautenbach and other ”relevant corporate entities” benefited Selebi between January 1 2000 and December 31 2005.
Selebi’s contract was extended by a year after a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Tim Williams will remain acting police commissioner while Selebi stays on leave pending the finalisation of this case.
No finding of guilt
There was nothing wrong in extending Selebi’s employment contract as he had not been found guilty by a court of law, President Thabo Mbeki said on Thursday.
Responding to MPs’ questions at the National Assembly, Mbeki disputed suggestions by Democratic Alliance MP Sandy Kylan that his decision was not consistent with the values of a clean government.
”The fact that a person has been charged does not mean he is guilty,” he said.
It was incorrect to suggest that Selebi’s contract should not have been extended simply because he had been charged. – Sapa