Papers reveal Oasis paid Hlophe nearly R500 000

A Business Day report says the amounts were made in regular payments since December 2002 to Hlophe and to Ting Trust. Developments yesterday in the defamation case – in which Oasis applied to alter its plea, saying Desai had waived his rights over Hlophe’s decision that Desai could be sued – could see the records of the closed proceedings of the Judicial Service Commission probe into Hlophe’s links to Oasis being revealed in court. Revelations of the payments to Hlophe were included in banking records requested by Desai and released by Oasis during the discovery process involving the defamation action. No billing records accompanied the payments to show that the claims were for expenses, the report notes. Hlophe denied he had received a retainer from Oasis, saying the payments were for expenses. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the JSC, which was unable to contest his claim that he had permission from the late Justice Minister Dullah Omar, to receive the payment. The case was postponed on the request of the defence. A resumption date has not been set. Full Business Day report See also an SABC News report