Malema won't be arrested, says lawyer
2012-09-21 19:11
Johannesburg - Expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema will appear in court in Polokwane next week, his lawyer Nicqui Galaktiou said on Friday.
"We were notified today that a warrant of arrest was issued for Mr Malema," she told Sapa.
"We don't know which court and when it will happen, but we are engaging with authorities on that. It will be in Polokwane."
She said Malema had not been arrested.
"No, he hasn't. My understanding is that he won't be arrested."
She said the charges against her client were unknown.
"We do not know what the charges are and we don't have a copy of the warrant."
The City Press reported earlier that Malema faced charges of money laundering, corruption and fraud relating to his Ratanang Family Trust and its share holding in On-Point Engineering, a company that allegedly made millions from Limpopo government tenders.
Earlier, authorities would not comment on the matter or confirm the warrant of arrest.
On Tuesday, Malema told reporters in Johannesburg if he was arrested, it would be done illegally.
"If we are illegally arrested tomorrow, we would have been arrested by [President] Jacob Zuma," Malema said at the time.
He said he was willing and ready to go to jail, and was not intimidated.
"I have nothing to hide... I only have my convictions. Nothing will stop me from fighting for economic freedom, not even my death... We are unshaken."
Malema said he had it "on good authority" that there were instructions "to get rid of some us..."
At the time, presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said: "The presidency is aware that this person is prone to making wildly unsubstantiated and unwarranted claims and statements, and we do not wish to dignify them."
- SAPA
