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Mann slams Zim 70 court action
15/07/2004 20:46 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Simon Mann, the alleged leader of the 70 suspected mercenaries awaiting trial in Zimbabwe, has described the pending Constitutional Court action on behalf of the men against the South African government as unwise, unhelpful and counter-productive, his new lawyer said in a statement on Thursday.
A media report earlier this week quoted attorney Alwyn Griebenow as having officially withdrawn as defence lawyer for Simon Mann, the British businessman who is currently being held at Chikurubi High Security Prison in Zimbabwe.
"Attorney Griebenow's statement is not true. In fact, his instructions were withdrawn because both Mr Mann and his family in the UK felt very unhappy about the confrontational legal route pursued to date," said attorney Mariette Kruger, who has been appointed together with a Johannesburg advocate to represent Mann in South Africa.
"The family has taken advice in South Africa, and believes that the High Court judgement handed down in June which rejected an application to have the 70 men brought to South Africa to stand trial, was sound in law.
Mann withdrawn as applicant
"Mr Mann and his family remain convinced that there are more appropriate ways than legal challenges to promote the South African government's understanding and support for the position of the 70 men," said Kruger.
A Constitutional Court appeal on the judgement handed down by Judge President Bernard Ngoepe will be heard on 21 July.
According to Kruger, Mann has withdrawn as an applicant to the challenge.
They believed organisations such as the African Union were more appropriate forums than courtrooms to address the current and future status of the men, who have yet to be formally charged in Zimbabwe.
Kruger also expressed concern that the proceeds of the sale of Mann's personal aircraft had still not been made available to support the families of the 70 men, despite Mann being told by his formed legal team that they were distributing R427 000 to the families weeks ago.
"Simon has always felt a very strong sense of responsibility towards the men in prison with him, and for their families. Although we are still investigating the apparent disappearance of the money, interim relief measures have been put in place for the families and I have been instructed to immediately begin disbursing much-needed welfare payments funded by Mr Mann's family," said Kruger.
- SAPA
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