FS asbestos corruption: State accused of misleading US officials over Cholota extradition
Former premier Ace Magashule's personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota, is now challenging the legality of the extradition and the Bloemfontein High Court's jurisdiction to try her in the matter.
Fraud and corruption-accused Moroadi Cholota appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on 12 August 2024. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - One of the defence lawyers in the Free State asbestos corruption matter has accused the State of deliberately misleading US officials during a bid to extradite former premier Ace Magashule's personal assistant back to South Africa.
Moroadi Cholota was hauled back to South Africa in August last year to face charges alongside her boss.
This followed a failed agreement to turn her into a State witness in the case against Magashule, businessman Edwin Sodi and several Free State officials accused of irregularities in the botched R255 million asbestos tender.
She's now challenging the legality of the extradition and the Bloemfontein High Court's jurisdiction to try her in the matter.
The lead investigator in the case, Captain Benjamin Calitz, has been on the stand for two days now.
He was part of a small delegation that went to the US to interview Cholota, even before she was considered an accused person in the case.
Calitz previously told the court that as a potential State witness, Cholota was unhelpful and aggressive.
She was later arrested and extradited to face fraud and corruption charges.
During cross-examination, Cholota’s lawyer, Advocate Loyiso Makapela, said that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead US officials by omitting key information in the paperwork filed for extradition.
She claimed there was also a misinformation campaign and false claims that Cholota was a fugitive and flight risk, which may have contributed to an incorrect decision to extradite Cholota.
In response, the lead investigator said he dis not agree with the assertions, and that in some instances, the decision taken on the documents to submit to the US was not his.