The pretrial hearing for the Former Free State Premier and his co accused has been postponed to the June. The Bloemfontein High Court made this postponement because Ace Magashule’s former personal assistant is still in America and there is an extradition process underway.
Magashule and his co accused were trying to challenge aspects of the case, questioning aspects of the evidence which was presented at the State Capture Commission. Naseer Casim,the prosecutor indicated that there is a process underway to extradite Moroadi Cholota from the United States of America.
Cholota was supposed to come in as the state witness, but she later revoked her decision and now comes in as one of the accused. She is currently studying in America and now has to be deported as an arrest warrant has been issued out for her. Her studies in the United States have been funded by the Free State government.
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Ace Magashule and his co accused face charges of corruption, theft, fraud and money laundering for the R255 million-rand asbestos contract. Money was paid with no work being presented. All the accused are facing over 70 charges against them. Among the accused Edwin Sodi who gave testimony at the state capture commission. Ace insists that the charges brought against him are just meant to tarnish his image.
The charges relate to him when he was Premier of the Free state in 2014. The provincial human settlement department awarded the asbestos contract worth 255 million to Diamond Hill and Black Head consulting. Money was looted and work was not done. The pretrial has been postponed and will be heared on 10 June 2022.
Source: The Citizen, ENCA, Eyewitness News, image from The Citizen
