Furher delays in Selebi trial

JOHANNESBURG – Former South African top cop Jackie Selebi’s corruption trial was delayed yesterday when the state security ministry said it was applying to the Constitutional Court to prevent an ex-intelligence official from testifying.

This followed the dismissal of its application in the Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday, where the ministry had sought to prevent ex-intelligence official Barry Gilder from testifying.’We’ve received an instruction from our clients to appeal against the court ruling,’ Hamilton Maenetje, a lawyer representing the ministry told the High Court in Johannesburg.The State wants Gilder to testify about a 2005 draft intelligence report.But the ministry argued in court last year that forcing Gilder to testify could set a precedent – with serious constitutional ramifications – where intelligence information could be compromised.Subsequently, lawyers representing the ministry made an application to Judge Meyer Joffe, requesting that Gilder be exempt from testifying to protect sensitive information. This was turned down.What followed was a Supreme Court of Appeal application, which was also turned down last Friday.The state security ministry has undertaken to file papers at the Constitutional Court by 14h00 on February 8.The State is to file its answering affidavit on February 12.Prosecutor Gerrie Nel had argued that testimony wanted from Gilder would cover information already in the public domain as several witnesses had already mentioned it in their testimony.Selebi, who cut a lone figure in the witness room outside Court 4B on Monday morning, faces a count of corruption and another of defeating the ends of justice in connection with some R1.2 million he allegedly received from convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti, Kebble and ex-Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach in return for favours.He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.- Nampa-Sapa