Former Western Cape Premier Peter Marais was on Wednesday found not guilty in the Bellville regional court on two counts of corruption. His co-accused, former Provincial Environment MEC David Malatsi was however convicted one count of corruption.
The charges related to payments totalling R400 000 made to the New National Party, of which the two men were members, in 2002 by Italian developer Count Riccardo Agusta. The state claimed the payments were to secure approval by the province's environmental authorities for the Count's proposed Roodefontein golf estate development at Plettenburg Bay. Marais raised his arms in a victory salute to a packed public gallery after the verdict and embraced his tearful wife and family members. "Peter Marais has been an honest, God-fearing person," he said outside the courtroom afterwards."No matter how many accusations they bring against me they couldn't prove a single one,"
Malatsi said he was satisfied with the magistrate's findings. He said he had compromised himself with Agusta because he was "misled". He's the one - the magistrate - that must decide whether am I good material for jail'
Source: IoL
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