Judgment in the application by seven of the eight accused in the first Gupta-linked state capture trial in the Bloemfontein High Court is expected on 12 April. Lawyers for the accused argued there was a lack of evidence, but the state hit back, saying there was common purpose to defraud.
The lawyers representing the accused, including former officials of the Free State Agriculture Department, who allegedly paid millions of rands to the so-called Gupta Lieutenant Iqbal Sharma's Nula.
Eight accused, including former Provincial Agriculture Department employees, service providers and companies through their defence lawyers have informed Judge Nompumelelo Gusha of their plan to bri.
A State witness in the first State Capture trial has testified he knew he was wrong when he wrote a submission to deviate from the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s procurement procedures for conducting a R24.9m feasibility study.