The prosecution in the Jackie Selebi corruption trial said on Tuesday it could wrap up its case by next week in what had been expected to be a six-month trial.

On Tuesday, Judge Meyer Joffe postponed the trial until Thursday as the state's next witness, former Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach, is currently out the country.

He recently struck a R40-million deal with the National Prosecuting Authority to testify in Selebi's corruption and defeating the ends of justice trial.

Meeting legal team in Dubai

Contrary to media suggestions Rautenbach has not gone to ground.

Several media reports suggested the prosecution was struggling to locate him but Eyewitness News understands he has been in Dubai for the past few days and can only travel to South Africa on Wednesday.

The former fugitive is on the European Union's blacklist due to his close relationship with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

As a result, his travel arrangements have to be carefully managed and he can only meet with his lawyers in Dubai.

After seven weeks, the prosecution has worked its way through the majority of its pivotal witnesses and could now wrap up its case by next week. The defence will then begin calling its witnesses.

It remains to be seen if Selebi will take the stand.

On Tuesday, former NPA head Vusi Pikoli testified that Selebi tried to blackmail him into dropping the charges against Rautenbach.

He also said he would not have withdrawn criminal charges against President Jacob Zuma if he was the country’s National Director of Public Prosecutions

Eyewitness News

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