Juju slips through judicial net

05 August 2015 - 02:04 By Zoë Mahopo

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is off the hook for now. His corruption case was yesterday struck off the Polokwane High Court roll on the grounds of numerous postponements - and because illness prevented one of Malema's co-accused, Kagisho Dichabe, from appearing in court.But the state could re-instate the charges. Malema - along with On-Point Engineering directors Dichabe and Lesiba Gwangwa - faced multiple charges of racketeering, money-laundering and fraud.At the centre of the charges was a R52-million tender that the Limpopo roads and transport department awarded to On-Point Engineering.Malema's lawyer, Mike Hellens, said that his client should be given a separate trial because the repeated postponements were prejudicial to him. Hellens said that if the court could not grant a separation of trials the case should be struck off the roll.The prosecution called for the trial to continue in Dichabe's absence.Judge Billy Mothle said it was legally impossible for him to separate Malema's case because this had not been requested by the state.Mothle told Malema and Gwangwa: "For now, the case is over. You are free to go."A jubilant Malema said he was confident that the state would not be able to revive its case."I stand before you an innocent man without a dark cloud over my head," Malema said...

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