Publication: Cape Times
Issued:
Date: 2006-02-16
Reporter: Fatima Schroeder
Reporter:
Reporter:
|
Manuel's Bid to Attach Arms Deal Critic's Flat Struck from Roll
|
Finance
Minister Trevor Manuel's application for a Cape High Court order enabling him to
attach a Durban flat registered in the name of campaigner against the arms deal
Terry Crawford-Browne has been removed from the court roll.
The state
attorney said he had received instructions *1 to
remove it from the roll. He would not elaborate.
In the application, Manuel alleged that Crawford-Browne - who had
claimed in opposing the minister's attempt to sequestrate his estate that he had
no assets other than a rusted old Uno - had failed to disclose the property was
registered in his name.
After the minister's application for
Crawford-Browne's sequestration was refused in November, state attorney Muhammed
Thaabit Kagee searched the deeds office registry throughout South Africa and
found a flat in Russell Street, Durban, in Crawford-Browne's name.
Kagee
asked in court papers that the property be declared executable.
In
responding papers, Crawford-Browne said he had abandoned any interest in the
property in March 2003 and there had been nothing improper or untoward in his
failure to disclose it to Manuel's attorneys.
He said it remained in his
name because the body corporate's chair had failed to transfer the legal
title.
In a statement, Crawford-Browne said the matter had been removed
from the roll at the minister's behest.
Manuel had hoped to auction the
flat in part-settlement of costs awarded against Crawford-Browne in challenges
to the arms deal.
With acknowledgements to Tania Broughton and the Cape
Times.
*1 Hopefully Mr Crawford-Browne
will be awarded legal costs *2 in this
instance.
*2 Maybe small, but sweet,
revenge.