DOJ forced to disclose nearly R3.6m paid for Rodrigues
December 11, 2019
DOJ &CD forced to disclose nearly R3.6m paid for Rodrigues legal costs, at taxpayers’ expense
Cajee calls on State Attorney to stop subsidising legal efforts to delay criminal trial
A Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) Application submitted by Imtiaz Ahmed Cajee in May 2019 to the Department of Justice & Correctional Services (DOJ&CD) requesting the total financial costs incurred by the State for the legal costs of Joao Antonio Rodrigues has revealed that a staggering R 3 585, 205.92 (Three million five hundred and eighty-five thousand two hundred and five rand, ninety-two cents) of taxpayers’ money has been paid so far. This covers the inquest, criminal remands and the stay of prosecution. It should be noted that the criminal trial of Rodrigues has not even started as yet.
Remarkably the DOJ&CD is refusing to provide a breakdown of the costs paid, since it “will encroach on private individuals“. The attorney for Rodrigues , Mr Ben Minnaar refused to consent to such disclosure. Mr Minnaar previously worked in the State Attorney’s Office and resigned once Rodrigues was charged. Read the response here.