A Boeremag member convicted of high treason has apologised to society and the government for any harm suffered because of his actions.
Bernard Bantjes, for Free State farmer Jurie Vermeulen, 44, argued in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday that his client had played a lesser role in the right wing group's activities and should not be sent to jail again.
Vermeulen was in custody for seven years and eight months until the court granted him bail in June 2010.
Bantjes said his client regarded the Boeremag trial as a closed chapter of his life and wanted to get on with his life. He had no plans of becoming involved in extremist activities again.
Vermeulen claimed during the trial that he had attended Boeremag meetings under duress because he feared he would be shot. He knew nothing about a coup plot to overthrow the government.
Bantjes on Tuesday argued Vermeulen had accepted his conviction and had spent the best years of his life in jail, which traumatised his family.
His oldest son was six-months-old when he was arrested and Vermeulen missed most of his formative years. His youngest son was born in March this year and was now five-months-old.
Bantjes said Vermeulen had not played a leading role in the Boeremag's activities, did not have an aggressive, militant type of personality and was “always in the back” during meetings.
He and his elderly father had withdrawn from the organisation after the Boeremag abandoned its D-Day coup operation in September 2002.
Bantjes submitted that society would not be upset if Vermeulen was not sentenced to direct imprisonment.
The trial against the 20 accused would resume on March 14 next year.
Dr Lets Pretorius would on Thursday apply for a variation in his bail conditions, pertaining to the interpretation of “political meetings”. In terms of his bail conditions, Pretorius may not attend any political meetings or gatherings. - Sapa