Modise+is+a+victim+of+trade-off+gone+wrong,+SABC

== = = = = ='Modise is a victim of trade-off gone wrong’=


 * SABC, 15 February 2008**

Pretoria businessman Charles Modise's former legal representative, Advocate Zahir Omar, says Modise is a victim of a trade-off gone sour. This refers to the alleged R500 000 donation to the South African Communist Party (SACP). Modise is now facing fraud charges.

Omar has told SABC Radio News in an exclusive interview that Modise is being kept in custody because he has revealed that he did not lay any charges of theft against SACP Secretary General Blade Nzimande.

The donation was allegedly given to Congress of SA Trade Unions President, Willie Madisha, who claims to have handed it to Nzimande. Nzimande has denied ever receiving the money.

Omar says Modise's statement relating to the missing R500 000 donation was never written by him.

“It was evident to me that he did not have a clue as to what was contained in the statement he allegedly signed in support of theft charges against Blade Nzimande. It was also apparent… that the person who prepared the statement for Charles Modise must have a legal background or could well be a lawyer. From the activities of the NPA, my inference is that someone from the NPA drew that statement for Charles Modise” says Omar.

Omar says he believes Modise was forced into signing the statement without even reading its contents.


 * From: http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,164232,00.html**

=Modise's bail application postponed=

SABC, 12 February 2008
Pretoria businessman Charles Modise will have to spend at least another two weeks in prison before his bail application resumes in the Kimberley Magistrate's Court. Modise's case has been postponed to February 22 to allow the court to study documents presented by the State.

The State earlier submitted documents which suggest that Modise might be a flight risk if granted bail. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, says they still maintain their position that Modise must not be granted bail.

Modise's legal representative says the State must prove every allegation against their client.

Modise is accused of fraud, forgery, intimidation and defeating the ends of justice. The State says Modise failed to explain documents that were found in his home and was hiding before his arrest in October 2007.


 * From: http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,164043,00.html**

According to **//[|this IOL report]//**, Modise was in fact arrested in early September, in Hillbrow, by the Scorpions.

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