New drugs charges for Nabolisa

10 July 2011 - 01:27 By ISAAC MAHLANGU
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Image: Times Media Group

Convicted drug peddler Frank Nabolisa faces fresh drug-related charges - two months after being found guilty of drug trafficking by the Pietermaritzburg High Court together with Sheryl Cwele, wife of security minister Siyabonga Cwele.

Nabolisa, a Nigerian national, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg on Friday alongside South African Natasha Mashiane.

Nabolisa's defence argued that evidence against him was illegally obtained through cellphone interceptions - but this evidence was ruled admissible by the magistrate.

Heavily armed police officers escorting Nabolisa to court took no chances and made sure he wore leg irons.

In another trial within a trial, similar to what transpired in the Pietermaritzburg case, Nabolisa and Mashiane challenged the admissibility of the evidence obtained via their cellphone conversations being intercepted.

Lawyers representing Nabolisa and Mashiane argued that Act 127 of 1992 - which deals with the interception and monitoring of telecommunication conversations - did not extend to cellphones.

Magistrate Yvonne Prinsloo ruled, however, that the evidence would be allowed in the trial. The matter was postponed to September 6.

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