CAPE TOWN Feb 26 — Sapa

TRUTH BODY TO SUBPOENA BASSON FOR PUBLIC HEARING

Chemical warfare expert Dr Wouter Basson is to be subpoenaed to appear before a public hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, deputy commission chairman Dr Alex Boraine announced on Wednesday.

Basson, who was arrested on January 29 on charges of dealing in the designer drug Ecstasy, was originally due to testify at an in-camera commission inquiry on Thursday and Friday this week.

Boraine said the commission had decided to postpone his appearance as a result of the recent Appellate Division judgement requiring the body to give documents in advance to people implicated in commission proceedings.

Basson was to have appeared at the closed inquiry in terms of Section 29 of the commission's founding legislation, the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act.

"However, lawyers for Dr Basson have requested copies of documents in the commission's possession and indicated that they will need time to prepare for his appearance," Boraine said.

The commission would supply the necessary documents and set a new date for his appearance within a few days.

"As a result of the delay in hearing Dr Basson, as well as of the importance of the matter, we have decided that instead of holding a closed inquiry, and then releasing information, we will now subpoena Dr Basson to appear at a public hearing."

The commission has already said that Basson, who was implicated in the so-called Steyn report on apartheid security force dirty tricks, could face criminal charges if he fails to apply for amnesty.

The Steyn Report alleged that the Seventh Medical Battalion, which Basson formerly headed, was involved in the manufacture of chemicals used to poison anti-apartheid activists.

Basson also admitted to giving medical support to clandestine military operations at a recent bail application hearing in the Pretoria Regional Court.


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