Manuel tries to tie up activist
2008-06-10 18:39
Cape Town - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has fired a fresh broadside at arms-deal activist Terry Crawford-Browne, seeking to have him declared a vexatious litigant.
Crawford-Browne is a former banker who has been engaged in a long-running battle with Manuel about the multibillion-rand deal.
He is fighting a Cape High Court bid by Manuel to permanently gag him from accusing the minister of corruption related to the deal.
Crawford-Browne said on Tuesday that Manuel last week filed a semi-urgent application that he be declared a vexatious litigant.
Judge's permission needed
He said Manuel wanted the defamation action against him stayed pending the outcome of this new application, which would be argued on Thursday.
Being declared a vexatious litigant means a person has to get a judge's permission before initiating any civil proceedings in the High Court.
Earlier this month, Crawford-Browne lost a court bid to force Manuel to hand over arms-deal documents.
He also tried unsuccessfully in 2003 to have the entire arms deal overturned on the basis that it was strategically, economically and financially irrational, and therefore unconstitutional.
- SAPA