Lamoer trial to last six months

THE trial involving suspended Western Cape top cop Arno Lamoer is expected to last at least six months, with the State set to call about 30 witnesses.

Details of the extent of the trial emerged in the Western Cape High Court yesterday during a hearing about the upcoming proceedings.

Evidence expected to be led, including intercepted telephone calls relating to Lamoer, was also touched on. Lamoer faces corruption charges along with Stellenbosch police cluster commander Brigadier Darius van der Ross, a provincial head of inspectorate Brigadier Kolindren Govender, and his wife, Bellville station commander Brigadier Sharon Govender.

Plattekloof businessman Mohamed Saleem Dawjee and his son, Mohamed Zameer, who is representing two companies, are also accused in the case.

The police officers are accused of accepting bribes from Dawjee senior.

During yesterday’s proceedings Pete Mihalik, for Van Der Ross and Kolindren Govender, said preparation for the trial would take months.

“Our opinion is this case will run for at least six months.” Judge Robert Henney agreed. A document handed to the court detailed some of the evidence.

It said the State had given electronic copies of the docket, including a financial forensic report and phone-mapping forensic report, to the accuseds’ lawyers. The trial is expected to start next year.