Court to hand down judgement on jurisdiction in trial-within-a-trial lodged by Cholota
Moroadi Cholota is among several people, including former Free State Premier Ace Magashule, accused of corruption in the multi-million-rand asbestos tender.
Fraud and corruption-accused Moroadi Cholota appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on 12 August 2024. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Bloemfontein High Court will on Tuesday hand down judgment on jurisdiction in the trial-within-a-trial lodged by the former personal assistant of former Free State Premier Ace Magashule.
Moroadi Cholota is among several people, including Magashule, accused of corruption in the multi-million-rand asbestos tender.
Cholota is challenging her extradition from the United States (US) after she was hauled back to the country in 2024 to face charges in the matter.
She said the Bloemfontein High Court had no jurisdiction to hold her criminally liable in the asbestos fraud and corruption case.
Cholota claims that her Hollywood-style extradition from the US was unlawful.
In April, the court granted Cholota a special plea to challenge her extradition in a trial-within-a-trial.
Over the weeks when the matter was being heard, her defence argued that State prosecutors and Hawks investigators in the matter overplayed their hand, intimidating Cholota and submitting false documents to the US to get the extradition order.
The State in the matter denies this.
In Tuesday’s proceedings, Judge Phillip Loubser will decide if Cholota will stand with the other accused in the main trial when it resumes.