The trial of former Orlando Pirates and Zambian national soccer team coach Milutin Sredojovic is in progress at the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court.
The State has called two witnesses in its case against Sredojevic. The 51-year-old is accused of sexual assault.
A 39-year-old woman laid the charges against him during the Cosafa Cup Tournament in Gqeberha, in December last year.
The first witness was Cosafa Event Manager Dianne Stark, who was also the complainant’s supervisor.
The 39-year-old complainant took the stand after her. Stark testified that the complainant came to her office and told her about a gentleman that was making inappropriate comments in one of the VIP rooms, where the woman served coffee.
She said the gentleman was offered coffee by the complainant but declined and said he wanted her sugar instead, looking at her groin area.
Stark says after discussing the matter they gave the gentleman’s comment the benefit of the doubt.
According to Stark the complainant went back to the VIP room only to come back a few minutes later angry that the gentleman had allegedly touched her backside.
When asked who the gentleman was Stark referred to, she pointed to Sredojevic also known as Micho, who cut a lonely figure in the dock.
When cross examined by the defence, who put it to Stark that her testimony was contradicting the statement she gave to police, Stark conceded that her testimony may be wrong.
The defence questioned Stark’s evidence that when she confronted Sredojovic about the incident, he replied that he did not do anything.
However, in her statement, she said he denied everything. After a protracted cross examination of the complainant, the defence argued there were multiple inconsistencies between Stark’s testimony and the complainants.
The defence accused the complainant of being a dishonest and evasive witness. The defence says the accused was with other Zambian officials when they walked in where the complainant was serving coffee.
It further stated that Micho requested tea with one sugar lifting his finger and the complainant jokingly said she will give her three sugars instead.
The complainant then took the tea to the accused and at no point ever did he point to- or look at her groin area.
The trial continues on Thursday.
