FS asbestos corruption trial: Investigators accused of ambushing Cholota in US
BLOEMFONTEIN - Fresh evidence in the Free State asbestos corruption trial has detailed how investigators tried to solicit damning evidence about former Premier Ace Magashule's alleged dodgy dealings.
A new transcript admitted into evidence is at the centre of proceedings in the trial-within-a-trial set to determine if the extradition of Magashule's personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota, from the US was lawful.
READ: Court issues warrant of arrest for one of the accused in FS asbestos corruption case
Initially a State witness in the matter, Cholota was hauled back to South Africa last year after she was added as an accused alongside her former boss.
After a back and forth between the lead State prosecutor and Magashule's lawyer on the transcript introduced by Advocate Lawrence Hodes this week, cross-examination of the first witness began.
After State prosecutors denied having ever seen the transcript on Tuesday, Hawks lead investigator Benjamin Calitz confirmed that the context of his interview with Cholota in the US in 2021 was correct, aside from a few gaps.
Cholota's lawyer, Advocate Loyiso Makapela, said it appeared that her client was ambushed when investigators arrived unannounced with the FBI at her dorm in the US and gave her no time to wash up or to prepare for the interview.
She then put this to the lead investigator on the stand.
Makapela: "I put it to you again, Captain Calitz, that the reason for this entire exercise was to get Ms Cholota to incriminate herself or to uncover some type of irregularity in her scholarship that could then be used against her to pressure her into incriminating Ace Magashule. What do you say about that?"
Calitz: "I do not agree."
Makapela: "And you said the point of this exercise was...?"
Calitz: "To clarify certain things.'
The former Free State Premier is accused of turning a blind eye to the R255 million asbestos tender.
A total of 17 people are on trial, including businessman Edwin Sodi and former Free State officials. They face a range of charges including fraud, corruption and money laundering.
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