NEWS
SCHEDULES
COLUMNS
PREVIOUS TOURS
OTHER SPORTS
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Aronstam's June 23 testimony

MR BLUMBERG: If there had not been a declaration would you still have given the gift to Hansie?

MR ARONSTAM: I definitely would have given him the R50,000.

MR BLUMBERG: Now the R50,000, the timing of that payment, what was the state of the forthcoming, or how far away were the forthcoming One-day Tri-nation series?

MR ARONSTAM: The test match ended on the Tuesday, the first match started on the Friday.

MR BLUMBERG: And the payments were made on?

MR ARONSTAM: The Wednesday and the Thursday.

MR BLUMBERG: So it was shortly before the ...(intervention)

MR ARONSTAM: Shortly, basically just before they started.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR BLUMBERG

COMMISSIONER: Thank you Mr Aronstam.

MS BATOHI: Mr Commissioner there is just one question, if I could, with your leave, just put this before. Mr Aronstam just regarding the first payment of R30,000 to MR CRONJE, would word of that payment of R30,000 have gotten out soon after the payment?

MR ARONSTAM: It shouldn't have, no.

MS BATOHI: Did you tell anybody about it?

MR ARONSTAM: I never mentioned to anybody the word "30,000" ever. I might have told a couple of people 50, but not 30.

MS BATOHI: Has the issue of indemnity from prosecution ever been discussed with you?

MR ARONSTAM: No.

MS BATOHI: Have you been - well I think that's sufficient. Is it correct that in your consultation with myself you discussed the fact that immediately after the storm had broken, so-to-speak, you went off to your attorney Mr Cameron and discussed and told him exactly what had happened between you and MR CRONJE?

MR ARONSTAM: Correct.

MS BATOHI: And as a result of your discussion with Mr Cameron what was decided should be done?

MR ARONSTAM: Should contact MR CRONJE as soon as possible.

MS BATOHI: And as a result of what was decided then did your attorney meet with Mr Sackstein?

MR ARONSTAM: Correct.

MS BATOHI: And on your evidence he reported to you after that what had happened?

MR ARONSTAM: Correct.

MS BATOHI: Are you aware of any articles being faxed by yourself or on your instructions to Mr Sackstein?

MR ARONSTAM: Yes. What transpired from that day was while we were watching the test match a friend of mine in London faxed me with articles about what had happened at Centurion Park. I in turn, my friend, my attorney Mr John Cameron was present with me at the time, we read the articles and that night he took them and gave a copy to Mr Sackstein.

MS BATOHI: Although you were not present at that meeting with Mr Sackstein but would you have expected, and from what your attorney later told you, did he convey to Mr Sackstein everything that you had told him about your knowledge about what happened between you and MR CRONJE?

MR ARONSTAM: Yes.

MR DICKERSON: Mr Commissioner with respect, that's not a question this witness can answer, he wasn't there. The question is directed at eliciting hearsay.

COMMISSIONER: Perhaps the simplest thing would be to find out from Mr Sackstein in due course whether he disputes what Mr Aronstam has told me.

MR DICKERSON: Yes, or perhaps to call Mr Cameron Mr Commissioner.

MR ARONSTAM: I don't think Mr Sackstein will deny it.

MR BLUMBERG: Mr Chairman, I am sorry, there is just one further issue where I would just like to clarify because there seems to be along the line of the questioning by my learned friend for MR CRONJE that the date of Mr Aronstam's preparation of his statement, I have before me the draft statement and the date and time that it was despatched to Cape Town from Johannesburg, which doesn't differ in any really material respect from the final signed statement being Monday June 19 at 2:43 p.m., long before MR CRONJE entered the witness box.

COMMISSIONER: That was faxed?

MR BLUMBERG: That was a facsimile sent. I have it in my possession. It is available to be examined by whoever wishes to.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you very much Mr Aronstam.

WITNESS EXCUSED

COMMISSIONER: We'll adjourn now and we will reconvene on Monday next, at half past nine.

MR BLUMBERG: Mr Chairman can I just place on record and ask that I be excused on Monday. My learned friend Mr Witts will carry on with the other client.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you for your assistance.

MR BLUMBERG: Thank you.

COMMISSION ADJOURNS AT 16H05