Manuel+seeks+court+order+to+gag+activist,+C+Terreblanche,+Sindy

Manuel seeks court order to gag activist
=Christelle Terreblanche, Sunday Independent, 17 February 2008=

Trevor Manuel, the minister of finance, has taken legal action in an attempt to gag Terry Crawford-Browne, the arms deal activist.

Manuel has lodged an urgent application to the Cape High Court to prevent further "unlawful and defamatory" allegations about arms deal-related corruption and supposed criminal conduct against him by Crawford-Browne. This includes claims that the finance minister should be charged by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) along with Jacob Zuma, the ANC president.

The case is to be heard on February 25, but Manuel wants an immediate restraining and interdicting order pending the 30 days allowed for a reply to the application for a final interdict.

In court papers, Manuel says that he has reasonable apprehension of suffering "immeasurable and irreparable harm" to his reputation and ability to do his work if Crawford-Browne is not gagged.

"In particular, the respondent is accusing me of corruption in the arms deal and stating that I should be charged with corruption and related criminal offences by the NPA. It is widely known that the NPA has charged ANC president Jacob Zuma with corruption and other offences in connection with the arms deal. What the respondent has been saying is that I, too, should be so charged."

Crawford-Browne is an international banker and the author of a book on the controversial R60 billion arms deal, Eye on the Money.

The book is centred on his failed 2002 Cape High Court bid to overturn Manuel's approval of loan agreements that the author insists were solely intended to finance the controversial arms deal.

The court found in Manuel's favour in 2004. Charles Abrahams, Crawford-Browne's lawyer, said Manuel's application will be opposed. "It is a matter that goes to the very heart of freedom of expression, particularly in relation to such an important issue of public interest as the arms deal," Abrahams told The Sunday Independent yesterday.

"We believe it is a matter that should be properly ventilated."

In his founding affidavit, Manuel told the court that the defendant was "entitled to express his opinions on these matters and I welcome robust political debate".

But he argues that in "recently renewed and escalated" attacks, Crawford-Browne "has exceeded the boundaries of lawfulness by accusing me repeatedly of criminal conduct".

The minister also wants the author to remove from **//[|his website]//** and "anywhere else" the allegation that accuses or suggests he "is guilty of the crime of corruption or other criminal conduct in connection with the arms deal".


 * From: http://www.sundayindependent.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4258553**

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