Court favours ex-spy boss

30 October 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

Sipho Masombuka

Sipho Masombuka

Cross-examination in the case of former spy boss Billy Masetlha took a back seat yesterday.

This happened when magistrate Dryer van der Merwe had to decide whether to uphold the application by the NIA to set aside a subpoena.

The subpoena demands that the NIA provide Masetlha's defence with the Project Fairhood report.

Masethla is appearing in Pretoria's Hatfield community court. He is charged under the Intelligence Oversight Act for withholding information from NIA Inspector-General of Intelligence Zolile Ngcakani. The report relates to the surveillance of ANC businessman Saki Macozoma and others.

The magistrate dismissed the application, ruling that Masetlha "should be given a chance to prove his innocence".

The case continues today .