Marais corruption case to start

2003-11-16 22:39

George - Peter Marais and David Malatsi will go on trial here on Monday on charges of corruption.

Marais, who is leader of the New Labour Party and a former New National Party Western Cape premier, and Malatsi, his former development planning MEC for the province, are on bail of R10 000 each after their arrest and several court appearances earlier this year.

The charges relate to a R400 000 "donation" to the New National Party by the Italian Count Riccardo Agusta to smooth the way for provincial approval of his Roodefontein golf estate near Plettenberg Bay.

At the time Marais was leader of the party in the Western Cape.

The R500m project, which was to include a driving range, and equestrian centre and a five-star hotel, was given the go-ahead by Malatsi's department soon after.

Malatsi, who also faces charges of fraud and theft, has been suspended by the NNP, while Marais quit the party in March this year to form the New Labour Party.

Senior Scorpions prosecutor Bruce Morrison has more than 60 witnesses on his list, but has declined to say whether Agusta will be among those he will call to the stand.

Nor would he say whether he intends calling NNP leader and Marais' successor in the premiership Marthinus van Schalkwyk, whom Marais says knew about the money from the very start.

The hearing, in the regional court, is provisionally scheduled to last two weeks, after which it will move to Cape Town.

- SAPA