Court hearings on fraud charges against South Africa's suspended Civil Aviation Authority chief executive, Trevor Abrahams, have been postponed to 2 October because of a legal technicality at a hearing on 6 July.
Abrahams, who was arrested last month after an alleged pilot licence trading scam (Flight International, 4-10 July), has been given back his pilot licence, passport and other personal documents because the state prosecutor had failed to inform him of the exact contents of the charges against him.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transport's Air Transport Licensing Council head, Wrenelle Stander, has been appointed acting chief executive of the CAA.
Abrahams and several pilots were arrested two weeks ago in connection with alleged illegal trading in airline transport pilot licences, examination papers and certificates. According to the CAA, Abrahams is facing charges of fraud, corruption, perverting justice and contravening the Aviation Act. Since the 6 July hearing, however, bail conditions have been dropped.
Source: Flight International
