Magashule's ex-PA's special plea: Judge rules court has no jurisdiction to try her
Ace Magashule's former assistant, Moroadi Cholota, has successfully scuppered her prosecution on graft charges related to the Free State asbestos removal tender.
The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein upheld her special plea to the charges on Tuesday.
Cholota had challenged the lawfulness of her extradition from the United States last year and, as a result, the court's jurisdiction to try her.
In its ruling, the court relied on a judgment the Supreme Court of Appeal handed down last year in which it essentially found that the power to request an extradition was vested in the justice minister and not the National Prosecuting Authority, despite the latter having made all extradition requests for the last three decades.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
an hour ago
- News24
Paul Mashatile headlines in Tokyo
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Sacramento County supervisors agree to reverse budget cuts to district attorney's office
Sacramento County DA says budget cuts to department would mean no misdemeanor prosecutions Sacramento County DA says budget cuts to department would mean no misdemeanor prosecutions Sacramento County DA says budget cuts to department would mean no misdemeanor prosecutions SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors agreed Wednesday night to restore proposed budget cuts to the district attorney's office. The move comes after District Attorney Thien Ho testified inside the chambers that the cuts would lead him to halt prosecutions of all misdemeanor cases. He turned the board chambers into more of a courtroom, arguing his case against cuts. "The word 'recommendation' means that I approve of it, that I consent to it, and I'm going to say right now I've never consented, approved, or recommended any of these cuts," Ho said. "If we cut by $1.7 million, I won't have the vacancies to fill the misdemeanor cases." Ho said his department was already working with limited resources. "Because we are hanging together by duct tape and superglue," Ho said. Ho made the case that cuts of $1.7 million would force him to cut seven attorney positions from his staff. Low-level crimes like vandalism and burglary would be left with no staffing to prosecute. "I can't cut enough photocopies to meet $1.7 million," Ho said. The packed chambers watched as Ho made the case that these recommendations were not his, but forced on him by the board. A point that Supervisor Phil Serna refuted, leading to an exchange between the two inside the chamber. "This recommendation of the cuts is coming from the CO's office and I've also been very clear about what that would be reflected in," Ho said. "I disagree wholeheartedly," Serna said. "He doesn't have the authority to make the recommendations. He just doesn't. It's not a fact, so we can agree to disagree, but it's not a fact." "Well, we'll disagree, respectfully, mister chair," Ho said.
CBS News
8 hours ago
- CBS News
Prosecution, defense rest in Derrick Thompson murder trial hours after brother's testimony
Both prosecution and defense have rested their cases in the trial of Derrick Thompson — hours after his brother testified against him. Thompson is accused of killing five young women in a south Minneapolis crash. His brother, Damarco Thompson, was subpoenaed by the prosecution and took the stand earlier Wednesday. He said didn't want to be there, but laid out his side of the story. His testimony comes a week after defense attorneys filed a motion informing the court of a planned "alternative perpetrator" defense, with WCCO confirming Thompson's brother, who is not charged in the case, as their alleged culprit. On the day of the deadly crash, Damarco Thompson, 32, testified that he drove his brother to the airport in a Dodge Challenger to rent a car. Derrick Thompson eventually chose a Cadillac Escalade, and they drove in their separate vehicles from the airport. They later stopped to exchange some items. Damarco Thompson said he gave his brother a blue hat and Derrick Thompson grabbed a change of clothes from the back of the Dodge. Damarco Thompson said when his brother drove off, there was nobody else in the SUV. He also said at no point during the day did he drive the SUV. During cross-examination, Damarco Thompson denied being in the Cadillac during the crash. He said he was only inside the Cadillac briefly at the airport. On the night of June 16, 2023, prosecutors allege Thompson drew the attention of a state trooper on Interstate 35W by driving the Cadillac erratically at more than 100 mph. Before the trooper turned their emergency lights on, Thompson allegedly cut across several lanes of traffic and exited onto East Lake Street, still speeding. Surveillance cameras captured his vehicle blowing a red light and slamming into a Honda Civic. Five young women in the car were killed: Salma Abdikadir, 20; Sabiriin Ali, 17; Sahra Gesaade, 20; Sagal Hersi, 19; and Siham Odhowa, 19. Earlier this week, a Minneapolis police officer whose body-worn camera captured the crash's aftermath off East Lake Street was questioned about the video, which shows officers speaking with a bloodied Thompson near the scene. The footage shows the officer talking to a witness who says Thompson matched the description of the driver who ran from the crash scene. Thompson tells the officer he was bloody due to police harassment. The officer testified she followed department protocol of showing a suspect to a witness at night in front of squad car headlights, and she had gathered enough information to detain Thompson. Closing arguments are expected to begin Thursday. Thompson is charged with five counts of third-degree murder and 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide for the crash. Note: Featured video is from June 3, 2025.
