Prinsloo refuses to offer plea

2010-01-12 07:54

Johannesburg - South African fugitive Dirk Prinsloo has refused to enter a plea in his criminal court case in Belarus, the Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Prinsloo arrived in the Baranovichi high court armed with documents, notes and applications on Monday.

Among them was a request that the judge and court recuse themselves as they were biased.

This was denied.

Theft, abuse

Prinsloo is accused of the theft of a R14 700 diamond necklace from one of his several girlfriends.

Prinsloo is also accused of the abuse and "torture" of another girlfriend. Prosecutors allege that he slapped her on the face and "delivered blows" to her body. Prinsloo would then take pictures of her injuries with which he would taunt her.

Prinsloo is a fugitive from justice in South Africa. He jumped bail before a trial in which he and his girlfriend, Cézanne Visser, were accused of sexually abusing young girls.

He was captured by police in Belarus after an attempted bank robbery.

- SAPA