The six men charged with Babita Deokaran’s murder made another appearance in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) last week, when their previous attorney withdrew from the case because of the accused's financial problems, reports EWN.
Deokaran, who was assassinated outside her Johannesburg home last August, was a whistle-blower in the Gauteng Health Department, who had uncovered dubious payments, worth hundreds of millions of rands, out of Tembisa Hospital. Six men were arrested and charged with her murder.
The last two postponements of the case have both been for the suspects’ legal team, headed up by Shafique Sarlie, to finalise their financial instructions and for the accused to put up the funds for their trial. However, this had still not been done by last week.
A new attorney, Bongani Zulu, as well as two new advocates, Sanele Sibisi and Cyril Mlotshwa have been appointed and the case postponed so a copy of the docket can be provided to the new team. The case will return to court on 18 November.
EWN article – Babita Deokaran's alleged killers get new legal team (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Speculation of Gauteng ‘Mafia’ link to murder of Babita Deokaran
Gauteng appoints independent investigator to probe Deokaran allegations
Gauteng Health whistleblower’s assassination was meticulously plotted
Gauteng Health murder suspect on full salary while behind bars