Cape Town - A heavy court roll on Friday caused the postponement of a corruption trial involving two former members of the Hawks, to Tuesday.
Captain Siyaza Patrick Siyale, and Wilfred Arno Mentoor have pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption, theft and defeating the ends of justice. Siyale has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of extortion.
They are on trial in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court, before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
The case revolves around Siyale's alleged victim, Nicodemus Moeng, Cape Town president of the French SA Chamber of Commerce and Industries, who was innocently caught up in a so-called Black Dollar scam.
According to the charge sheet, Congolese businessman David Kilato approached Moeng to become involved in Kilato's investment business.
Kilato claimed to be the only son of an assassinated DRC army general, and told Moeng he feared for his own life and wanted a partner in South Africa to assist in “migrating” his business to South Africa.
Moeng fell for the scam, and lost about R300 000 that Kilato needed to transfer money to South Africa.
Moeng received four small safes from Kilato for safe-keeping, supposedly containing Kilato's money and Moeng's R300 000, but in fact containing pieces of paper cut to the size of dollar bills and dyed black.
Prosecutor Denzyl Combrink alleges that the two accused intercepted Moeng after he had received the fourth safe, and threatened to arrest him for involvement in the Black Dollar scam unless he paid them R10 000.
The case continues on July 29.
Sapa