Lawyers for Moroadi Cholota welcome ConCourt judgment on extradition lawfulness

Lawyers for Moroadi Cholota, the former personal assistant to Ace Magashule, have welcomed the Constitutional Court judgment, stating they look forward to ventilating other points against her extradition from the US.

The apex court handed down a judgment today on the lawfulness of Cholota’s extradition, sending the matter back to the Free State High Court. Last year, the High Court found the deportation to be unlawful.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court agreed with the High Court; however, Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo ruled against the High Court’s decision not to prosecute.

Cholota is facing corruption and money laundering charges related to the Free State asbestos scandal, which involves Magashule and tender tycoon Edwin Sodi.

READ: ConCourt sends Cholata's prosecution back to High Court

Cholota’s lawyer, Piet Tibane, commented on the legal proceedings: "We approached the Constitutional Court as early as last year when our client got arrested in the US. And why we approached the Constitutional Court then it was to challenge the lawfulness of the extradition and this court confirmed that we were correct. We are looking forward for the trial within a trial to commence on Monday so that we can ventilate other points which were raised and we also afford the state to state their case."