Stratton challenges Scorpions' extradition bid in ConCourt

In papers before the court, Stratton's attorney Rael Gootkin stated that Scorpion prosecutor Gerrie Nel indicated to Stratton's advocate Francois van Zyl SC that 'a request for Stratton's extradition will be forwarded to the Australian authorities soon'. Should Stratton be denied direct access to the Constitutional Court, Gootkin has asked that he be allowed to intervene in the hearing of the government's legal battle with alleged stem cell fraud couple Stephen van Rooyen and Laura Brown. Van Rooyen and his American model wife successfully halted their extradition in March. Pretoria High Court Judge Ferdi Preller found that SA could not extradite Van Rooyen and Brown because Parliament had failed to enact SA's extradition agreement with the US into law - a decision that Stratton is now using to support his case. The government is planning to challenge Preller's ruling, which impacts on every extradition agreement concluded since 1996, including SA's agreement with Australia. Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)