/ 7 July 2008

Fidentia boss not getting required medication, court told

Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown is not getting the medication he needs while he is in prison, his attorney said on Monday.

The attorney, Joe Weeber, made the remark to a magistrate during a brief appearance by his client in the Cape Town Regional Court on charges related to Fidentia’s dealings with Infinity.

That matter was postponed to July 29 to allow Weeber to take further instructions from Brown, who is being kept in the hospital section of Pollsmoor prison following an assault by fellow prisoners.

Soon after that, Brown appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court across the road on charges relating to the Antheru Trust.

That case was postponed to the same date, the magistrate there ordering that Brown remain in custody.

Prosecutor Thersia du Toit said the postponement was for ”further discussions with the defence”.

Weeber told the court these talks should reach ”some finality” before that date, and that if they did, he would arrange an earlier appearance date.

He has previously said he was talking to the Scorpions about bail conditions.

He said after Monday’s appearances that bail talks were still going on.

”I’m not at liberty to say anything more than that at this stage,” he said.

He said Brown was on a variety of medications, and was not getting them at Pollsmoor.

Brown would be visited by a specialist doctor on Tuesday.

He said the medical situation was hindering him from fulfilling his mandate as Brown’s lawyer. — Sapa