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Fidentia saga: Piet Bothma appears in court
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April 24, 2008, 12:15
The corruption case against the suspended boss of the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA), Piet Bothma, has been postponed in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court this morning.
Bothma appeared briefly in court today in relation to his alleged involvement in the missing millions in the Fidentia group of companies. The company was placed under curatorship in February last year, after a probe discovered that over one billion rand of money invested in it was missing. Bothma appeared in court without his co-accused and embattled Fidetia boss, J Arthur Brown. Their cases were separated, and Brown appeared later on charges of theft, money laundering, corruption and reckless trading amounting to just over R200 000.
The State alleges that Bothma invested TETA's money in Fidentia so that he could in return corruptly gain financially and has now also added a third accused in the matter, Jacobus Theart. It remains unclear how he is connected to the pair. Theart is being charged with theft and money laundering, amounting to R800 000. The case has been postponed until July 29 for further investigation.
Straight after this case, he walked across the road to the regional court, where he faces charges in relation to misappropriating about R4.5 million from the company, Fundi. The case has been postponed to May 30. However, the trial is expected to begin on September 15.
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