Travelgate MP's trial postponed
2008-05-12 12:32
Cape Town - Travelgate MP Mnyami Booi has been granted a postponement of his trial, which was to have started in the Cape Town Regional Court last week.
The postponement is to allow him to use the services of his advocate of choice, senior counsel Jan Heunis, who is not available now.
However, in her ruling on Monday, Magistrate Michelle Adams rejected Booi's request for a "sine die", or indefinite, postponement.
Booi, an African National Congress MP, is the only one of the more than two dozen legislators implicated in parliamentary travel voucher fraud who has not taken a plea bargain.
His trial had been set down for the period May 5 to May 23.
He told Adams in his application for a delay that he had been able to secure the funds needed to hire Heunis only in April.
He also wanted time to probe what he claimed were unconstitutional methods used by the Scorpions in investigating him, and their alleged selective prosecution.
In addition, Booi wanted to see an independent forensic report that five travel agents, who are to go on trial in the high court, have asked be compiled.
Booi's attorney Mario Wilker and prosecutor Jannie van Vuuren were trying to get hold of Heunis on Monday morning to arrange a new trial date.
- SAPA