Pretoria : The corruption trial of former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni and businessman Michael Woerfel is to be heard in the Special Commercial Crimes Court here in July.

The men appeared in court briefly yesterday morning, when the trial date was set for July 9 to 26.

The defence was given until June 25 to file objections, and Woerfel and Yengeni's bail of R10 000 each was extended.

The charges against the men relate to an alleged 47% discount given to Yengeni when he bought a luxury Mercedes-Benz 4x4 in a deal apparently organised by Woerfel - then managing director of European Aeronautic Defence Systems (EADS).

It is alleged that Woerfel sold the car to Yengeni for R182 563, nearly half the retail price of R349 950. Yengeni later sold the Mercedes for R220 000.

The State alleges Yengeni received the vehicle with the intention to "use his power or exercise his influence to influence the arms acquisition process" in favour of EADS predecessor Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG or DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG.

Yengeni, who was chairman of parliament's joint standing committee on defence at the time, faces a charge of fraud as an alternative to the main corruption charge.

EADS - a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler Aerospace and two European companies - has a 33% stake in Reutech Radar Systems, a Stellenbosch-based company that secured a R220-million contract to provide radar technology for four corvettes that form part of the country's multi-billion rand arms acquisition programme.

The forgery charge pertains to an agreement of sale drafted in respect of the Mercedes transaction.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times