State angry at Lamoer’s defence

THE STATE has lashed out at the lawyers of former provincial commissioner Arno Lamoer and four co-accused for not doing their part in accessing information. This is after another application to access cellphone records was brought before court yesterday.

Lamoer, businessman Salim Dawjee and three brigadiers, Darius van der Ross , Sharon Govenderand her husband Colin Govender face 109 charges of corruption, racketeering and money laundering involving R1.6 million.

The application was for the court to order the State to present more information on the crime intelligence investigations into this matter.

So far the defence is in possession of CDs which have transcripts of some conversations recorded during the interception of the men’s cellphones. However, the defence claim the State is withholding more transcripts.

Advocate Johann Nortje, lawyer for the Govenders, said mapping of call records showed calls listed between Dawjee, Van der Ross and Colin, but there were no transcripts of those conversations.

“We have not received all relevant information regarding interceptions and the State says there are no further transcripts,” said Nortje.

State prosecutor Billy Downer said he had repeatedly told the court and defence that only transcripts supplied are those relevant to the case. He said the transcripts handed to the defence were chosen by crime intelligence based on the relevance to the matter.

The recordings are in an encrypted electronic database at crime intelligence’s disposal.

The trial continues today.