The judge in Jackie Selebi's corruption case has turned down the state security ministry's request for leave to appeal a decision compelling an ex-intelligence official to testify.

"The applicants for leave to appeal have not established that they have reasonable prospects of success," Judge Meyer Joffe said in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"I make the following order: the application for leave to appeal is refused."

In camera testimony offered

The ministry's lawyer Marumo Moerane asked court to stand down for a short while for him to consider his party's position.

Previously Joffe turned down the ministry's application to exempt ex-intelligence co-ordinator Barry Gilder from testifying to protect sensitive information.

Instead, he instructed Gilder to give evidence in camera.

Moerane wanted Gilder to be able to stay silent about a 2005 draft intelligence report which contains a paragraph about allegedly untoward payments Selebi was receiving from slain mining magnate Brett Kebble.

The claim in the draft document was apparently made by businessman Jurgen Kogl.

Screaming woman

On Tuesday morning, proceedings were disrupted when a woman screamed and removed her clothes in protest against the handling of a case involving her husband's murder and apparent business dealings.

The woman, dressed in a black jacket and black head scarf, sat quietly for more than an hour before Selebi's case started.

When the matter started, she pulled out a banner covered in Aids ribbons and pictures of women blowing trumpets.

The woman shouted that she wanted State prosecutor Gerrie Nel to tell her when a certain case would be heard, saying it had been 10 years since her husband was murdered.

Court officials tried to remove her from the room. As they pulled her away she tore off her clothing, breaking her jackets' buttons, and took off her shoes.

She was left sitting on the floor in a black slip and stockings.

"I propose and ask everyone in this room to give me an ear. I am in prison for 10 years. My husband was killed. Mr Gerrie Nel is not bringing my case to court," she said gesturing wildly.

"They say I have blood on my hands."

As officials tried to remove her, she shouted: "Pick me up if you want to, kill me if you want to, let me talk, let me talk. I am asking to be killed if my matter is not to be addressed.

"What must I do now? I'm a prisoner. Yes, Mr Selebi, let them take the money Mr Selebi has stolen from the drug lords and use it."

Selebi is facing a count of corruption and another of defeating the ends of justice in connection with at least R1.2-million he allegedly received from convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti and others in return for favours.

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