Johannesburg - The relationship State witness Vusi Msimango had with police again came under the spotlight in the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Wednesday.
Annelene van den Heever, for Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir, questioned Paul Vusi Msimango on whether he had had lunch with a policeman friend on Tuesday in the court's parking lot.
“Did you have lunch with Colonel Ximba yesterday?” asked Van den Heever.
“No,” Msimango answered.
“Ximba could have been at the court but I did not see him.”
Van den Heever said her colleague had seen Msimango sitting in a minibus taxi outside court during lunch and after court proceedings. She was referring to Colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba.
She highlighted that the court had CCTV cameras outside. Ximba allegedly drove up to him in another vehicle and the two spoke.
Wearing bright green pants, a brown jacket, and white shirt, Msimango stuck to his story.
“I did not see him,” he said through an interpreter.
Msimango was testifying in the trial of Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Jess Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng, and Siboniso Miya.
They face charges of dealing in drugs, attempted murder, and kidnapping to which they have all pleaded not guilty.
Msimango has testified that he had been recruited to help find a man named Doctor who disappeared with 25kg of tik which he was tasked to help transport to Australia.
The accused allegedly kidnapped and tortured Doctor's brother Bheki Lukhele in a bid to get to Doctor. Lukhele was left alive, near a Katlehong stadium.
Earlier, the court was told Lukhele opened a case against the accused in June last year. However, police closed the case, saying it was false. The case was re-opened several months later.
Van den Heever on Wednesday submitted an application to obtain the contents of the first docket, saying it could exonerate her client.
Prosecutor Louis Mashiane was in possession of the docket.
Judge Collin Lamont has reserved judgment on the matter.
Sapa