Magistrate and lawyers invested in Krion - accused

'If attorneys and advocates - I know this sounds silly - but if they invested and they know the law, then that was enough for me,' Izabel Engelbrecht (39) testified. According to a Beeld report, she was a director of one of the entities used in the Krion scheme. She said the fact that lawyers also invested in the scheme comforted her that everything was legal. The alleged martriarch of the scheme, Marietjie Prinsloo, also repeatedly told her she must 'stay within (the framework) of the law'. 'It was enough for me that she was worried about staying within the law.' Full Beeld report

The question of the use of a helicopter was raised by Judge Cynthia Pretorius, who asked the final accused, Heinrich Engelbrecht, why a helicopter worth R2.1m was acquired in 2001. He answered that they farmed in the Bushveld and had to drive 480 kilometres to pay wages to 'two black men' working for them. 'So, you bought a helicopter for R2m to go and pay two black people once a month,' the judge asked. 'It was much more convenient,' he answered. According to a Beeld report, the defence closed its case last week. All seven accused pleaded not guilty to 218 683 charges. Full Beeld report