Dated: February 15 2013
By DAILY NEWS REPORTER
The State closed its case against school stationery fraud accused Jabulani Mabaso on Thursday, after which his legal counsel indicated they would apply for a discharge.
Mabaso’s advocate, Willie Vermeulen SC, told Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Kobus Booyens that the State had not proven its case against Mabaso.
He therefore does not have a case to answer to, and would be making an application for a discharge.
On Wednesday, Judge Booyens noted that the State may be wasting time in calling certain “key” witnesses, who were not even cross-examined by Vermeulen because their evidence did nothing to further the State’s case against Mabaso. Both the State and defence would submit heads of argument and the application for discharge would be argued on Thursday next week.
Mabaso, the managing director of Indiza Infrastructure Solutions, is accused of defrauding the KZN Department of Education of R200 million in 2005.
It is alleged he made his staff fabricate and inflate invoices for stationery.
Mabaso has pleaded not guilty to four charges of fraud, seven of forgery and seven of uttering.
Indiza acted as an agent for the department. The company is being liquidated.
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