National Prosecuting Authority boss Shamila Batohi relied on rumours, hearsay and ignored well established rules of evidence - the North Gauteng High court has been told.
The court is currently hearing the application by the NPA to have Gupta-linked mine Optimum Coal Mine (OCM) forfeited to the state, as it was allegedly bought with proceeds of crime.
In accordance with the adopted business rescue plan for Optimum Coal Mine (OCM), Liberty Coal – owned by British billionaire businessman Daniel McGowan – was just steps away from taking ownership of the assets of OCM as part of a debt-to-equity arrangement when the NPA launched its preservation application to have the assets and business of OCM preserved pending forfeiture to the state.