The Times *Cwele 'mule' to testify?* /Judge: Jailed woman may hold the key/ *Monica Laganparsad, The Times, Johannesburg, 15 October 2010*The judge presiding over the drugs trafficking trial of Sheryl Cwele - wife of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele - is considering sending a commission to Brazil to hear "crucial" evidence from her main accuser.
Sheryl CwelePietermaritzburg High Court judge Piet Koen said yesterday that evidence from Tessa Beetge - whom Cwele allegedly hired as a drug-carrying mule, and who is serving an eight-year sentence in a Sao Paulo prison for drug trafficking - "might hold the answer" to the case.
Speaking of his concerns about evidence presented at the trial to both prosecutors and the defence lawyers, Koen said: "It seems more and more to me that the evidence [of Beetge] is crucial for a proper verdict."
He said that, because legislation provided for international co-operation under these circumstances, he suggested that a commission - including prosecutors, defence lawyers and a judge's representative - be sent to Brazil to gather evidence.
Failing that, a "cheaper" alternative would be to use a video link-up so that Beetge to give evidence.
"I haven't made up my mind yet but it's an important issue to ventilate for the proper administration of justice," Koen said.
This came after prosecutor Ian Cooke told the court that Beetge's statement - taken by investigating officer Issack Ludick when he visited her in prison - could not be admitted as evidence because Beetge could not be cross-examined by Cwele's lawyers.
Cwele and her co-accused, Nigerian Frank Nabolisa, are on trial on charges of drug trafficking and recruiting drug mules.
Both have pleaded not guilty.Beetge was arrested in June 2008 at Sao Paulo airport with 9.2kg of raw cocaine in her suitcase.
The state alleges that Cwele, the director of health and community services at the Hibiscus Coast municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, recruited Beetge - her former neighbour - to smuggle cocaine from South America to South Africa.
The cross-examination on Tuesday of the state's key witness, Charmaine Moss, was postponed when Moss told Cooke that she was too sick to testify.
On Monday, Moss told the court that she had been asked by Cwele to go to Turkey to collect a parcel but had refused.
Yesterday, Cooke said he had been faxed a medical certificate from Moss's doctor, who said she was unfit for work until October 29. He said she was suffering from anxiety, hypertension, panic attacks and insomnia, and advised her that, under no circumstances, should she testify until November.
Earlier, Ludick, a member of Gauteng's Organised Crime Unit, testified that a kilogram of cocaine fetched up to R20000.
He said dealers could make a profit of between R200 and R500 a gram.Beetge's boyfriend, Hendrik Klaasen, the first witness of the day, told the court that Cwele offered him a job overseas. He testified that he and Beetge met Cwele at her office to discuss the arrangements on the day Beetge left for Johannesburg on the first leg of her trip to collect the drug.
"They talked about the work opportunity in London and the salary. She [Beetge] was offered a salary of £1000 a week.
"While the three of us were in her office, she asked me if I was interested in a job opportunity overseas. I refused," said Klaasen.
In an e-mail dated June 4 2008, Beetge wrote to Cwele: "Hi Sheryl, Hope you are well. I am OK, just a little stressed over the fact that I am a little in the dark about confirmation and details. Frank said he would get you to text me details and I have not heard from anybody, what is going on???"
The trial was adjourned to Monday when three Brazilians, including Beetge's arresting officer, will take the stand.
*From: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article707981.ece/Cwele-mule-to-testify*
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