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The
State withdrew fraud and corruption charges against German
businessman Michael Woerfel in the Commercial Crimes Court in
Pretoria on Wednesday.
Woerfel had been accused of allegedly arranging a discount on a
luxury 4X4 Mercedes Benz for former African National Congress Chief
Whip Tony Yengeni.
At the time, Woerfel was the head of Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG's
Pretoria representative office.
Daimler-Benz Aerospace was the manufacturer of the AT2000 -- which
was then being considered with two other light fighter aircraft as
part of South Africa's arms acquisition process.
Yengeni was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday after he
was found guilty of fraud last month in terms of a plea agreement
with the state.
The trail of Woerfel, who has pleaded not guilty, was to have
continued separately after sentencing.
His lawyer, Mike Hellens, told reporters the withdrawal of charges
against his client flowed from Yengeni's plea bargain with the
State.
In terms of that agreement, Yengeni was guilty of fraud but
acquitted on corruption for allegedly accepting the 47-percent
discount on his Mercedes.
Hellens said Yengeni was acquitted of everything Woerfel was
charged with.
The logical conclusion was that the State was unable to prove
corruption against Woerfel, Hellens explained - Sapa
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