SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: World Cup security breach case postponed until next week

Record ID: 454949

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: World Cup security breach case postponed until next week
  • Date: 1st July 2010
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 30, 2010) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) CAPE TOWN MAGISTRATES COURT MAGISTRATES COURT SIGN ON WALL MEDIA WAITING OUTSIDE COURT HOUSE SIGN ON COURT HOUSE GLASS DOOR SAYING, "DEDICATED COURT FOR 2010 WORLD CUP - COURT 14" VARIOUS OF MEDIA WAITING OUTSIDE COURT VARIOUS OF DAILY MIRROR JOURNALIST SIMON WRIGHT LEAVING COURT FOLLOWED BY MEDIA NATIONAL PROSECUTIONS AUTHORITY SPOKESPERSON MTHUNZI MHAGA SPEAKING TO MEDIA OUTSIDE COURT (SOUNDBITE) (English) MTHUNZI MHAGA, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NATIONAL PROSECUTIONS AUTHORITY, SAYING: "We are awaiting for representation to be made by their legal representatives, which they expected to submit by the 7th of July. In fact, by the 7th of July we must have made a decision as well because the case will be here on the 7th of July." MORE OF SIMON WRIGHT LEAVING COURT
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADSS1UJ3OE75Y1JKNGSXO20G2C
  • Story Text: Simon Wright, a journalist from British tabloid newspaper the Sunday Mirror, appeared before a South African court on Wednesday (June 30) on charges of attempting to "defeat theof justice" and contravening immigration laws.
    He is alleged to have orchestrated a security breach where a fan gained access to the England soccer team's room after a World Cup match in Cape Town.
    Police arrested Wright after viewing closed circuit television footage that indicated he helped 32-year-old fan Pavlos Joseph get into the England locker room after their June 18 draw with Algeria.
    The court postponed his hearing until July 7 and extended his 3,000 rand (393 U.S. dollars) bail.
    "We are awaiting for representation to be made by their legal representatives which they expected to submit by the 7th of July. In fact, by the 7th of July we must have made a decision as well because the case will be here on the 7th of July," South Africa's National Prosecutions Authority's spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga told journalists.
    Meanwhile Pavlos Joseph's solicitor told Cape Town Magistrates' Court that prosecutors had dropped further charges against Joseph after he paid a 750 rand (98 U.S. dollars) fine for trespassing.
    Joseph's surprise appearance in the changing room, which included a short conversation with former England captain David Beckham, raised concerns about lax security at the month-long tournament, the first to be staged in Africa.
    The Sunday Mirror newspaper has denied its reporter is guilty of any wrongdoing.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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