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Brazilian testifies at Cwele drugs trial

NIREN TOLSI | PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Oct 18 2010 14:37

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The drug-trafficking trial of Sheryl Cwele -- the wife State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele -- and her co-accused, Nigerian national Frank Nabolisa, started late on Monday at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, with the state calling a Brazilian chemical expert, Carolina Braga, as a witness.

Braga, who has a master's degree in chemical engineering, has tested chemical substances for the Brazilian Federal Police and the army for the past six years.

Prosecutor Ian Cooke began the morning by asking Braga to outline the procedure used by Brazilian authorities to test substances in the event of an arrest where there is a suspicion that they may illegal or banned.

Braga testified that two packages of roughly around 9kg and 1kg were found on the person of Tessa Beetge when she was arrested in Brazil in June 2008 and that these had been tested.

Cwele faces, together with her co-accused, one count of dealing in dangerous dependence-creating drugs or conspiring to do so, and two counts of incitement to dealing in dangerous dependence-creating drugs. The latter related to allegedly recruiting Beetge and Charmaine Moss, another state witness, to traffic cocaine.

The trial continues.

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Comments

Goodness, the wife of the Minister of Intelligence/Secret Service, nogal! Ja neh, our leaders never fail to amaze.

Jon Visagie on October 18, 2010, 3:11 pm

Leadership by example, I don't think!

Shaman Sans Frontieres on October 18, 2010, 4:01 pm

Unbelievable!

mantsho tlali on October 18, 2010, 5:25 pm

It's the first time I've heard of a hairstyle testifying. :)

Rod Baker on October 18, 2010, 5:57 pm

I think South Africa is at high risk of becoming a Mafia State if not there already

Ngako Mametja on October 18, 2010, 5:58 pm

Drugs are draining the World

Ngako Mametja on October 18, 2010, 6:03 pm

Rod Baker on October 18, 2010, 5:57 pm

Somebody recently remarked the minister of .303 single shot rifles and veterans also with a similar and remarkable hairdo resembles a "roadkill".

Once more the comparison comes to mind LOL.

White Mamba on October 18, 2010, 11:42 pm