Boeremag: Prison head sorry
2004-02-24 17:52
Pretoria - The head of Pretoria's Local Prison has tendered an "unconditional apology" for failing to obey an order by the judge in the Boeremag treason trial that one accused's laptop computer be returned to him.
Counsel for prison head Nico Baloyi told the court on Tuesday the accused Wilhelm Pretorius's laptop had not been returned to him because of a "misunderstanding" about the order issued by Judge Eben Jordaan last week.
Jordaan said on Friday it was scandalous that Correctional Services had simply ignored his order, and ordered Baloyi to come to court personally to appear in a contempt investigation.
Pretorius's laptop, which he uses to study the record of the trial and to prepare for the case, was returned to him shortly after the judge's remarks.
The court was told that a specific person in the state attorney's office had been allocated to deal with these types of complaints in future to prevent the court from being saddled with unnecessary applications.
Meanwhile some of the accused on Tuesday again complained about the use of leg irons when they were transported. According to a medical report one of the accused, Adriaan van Wyk, was a diabetic and did not easily recover from injuries caused by leg irons.
The trial was postponed to Thursday after one of the defence advocates, Rudi Lubbe, withdrew on Tuesday for personal reasons. A new legal representative will be appointed in his place.
- SAPA