A South African judge on Tuesday struck out the corruption case against fiery opposition politician Julius Malema off the roll on Tuesday, saying that the Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader had waited too long for the trial.
Malema was charged with money laundering, racketeering and corruption related to a government contract worth 52 million rand ($4 million) awarded by a provincial department to a company in which he held a stake through his family trust.
Julius Malema walked out of court today after his trial – on fraud charges following the awarding of tenders to a company linked to him by the Limpopo transport department – was struck off the roll.
The judge said that Malema and his co-accused had already waited too long to answer to the charges. This came after the prosecution yesterday sought a postponement because one of the accused was ill.
“No postponement! Justice Delayed is Justice Denied!‚” the EFF Official Account @EconFreedomZA had tweeted earlier today.
“The judge says I am free … I know the state can reinstate charges‚ but I stand before all of you an innocent man without a judgment against my head‚” Malema said outside court today‚ claiming the charges were attempt to silence him. “They do not have a case against me.”
Malema yesterday told his supporters told his supporters that he wanted the trial to get under way.
“This dark cloud has to be resolved. And therefore any form of sickness or death or any other material condition should never prevent me from having my day in court. I plead with the judge and the national prosecuting authority. You have accused me for too long‚ let me have my day in court‚” he said to loud cheers.
Malema’s Ratanang family trust is said to have benefited from the irregular awarding of a tender to On Point Engineering.
Malema and two On-Point Engineering directors had been accused of misrepresenting themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department resulting in the company being awarded a R52-million tender.
It was also alleged that Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in the company and that he benefited from the contract.
Malema was also accused of having bought himself a car and a farm with the money received from that deal.(Reuters/TimesLive)