Bail applicant Bino Cloete has voiced discontent over the line of questioning by the State when he took the witness stand for cross-examination in the Keetmanshoop Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

 Cloete, together with his brother George Cloete and Charmaine Cloete, the wife of George, faces two counts of violating the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and illicit trafficking under the Diamond Act.

 Before being cross-examined by the State, Cloete raised his hand to address the court, objecting to the manner in which the State was forcing a simple yes or no answer to questions, as he had observed during his brother's cross-examination.

 Conducting his own defense, he also accused the State of misleading the court.

 Taking a swipe at State Prosecutor Iyaloo Haipinge, Cloete accused her of employing delaying tactics and playing hide-and-seek in attempts to delay the bail application hearing.

 Haipinge cited attending other court matters at the Bethanie Magistrate's Court as reasons for the postponement request.

 Countering the line of questioning claims, Haipinge argued that the State needs to ask leading questions to test the burden of proof that lies with the accused.

 She stated that the presiding magistrate in the matter, as well as the judiciary office and the Prosecutor General's office, are well aware of her prosecutorial duties at the Bethanie Magistrate's Court.

 She further denied misleading the court as suggested by Cloete.

 Magistrate Mulonda Masuku explained to Cloete that the objective of cross-examination is to test witness credibility and trust and that the State is allowed to ask leading questions.

 He added that the witness would be granted an opportunity to ask questions after being cross-examined.

 The magistrate also ruled against Cloete's request to hand in medical reports as exhibits after he had closed his case.
 
Cloete further remarked that the prosecutor was treating the court as her playground, dancing in court, which he deemed intended to intimidate him.

 The magistrate said the court did not observe such conduct but advised the prosecutor to take note of it.

 Cloete said that although he had been unemployed since his retrenchment from the Skorpion Zinc Mine in 2020, he had financially supported his eight children with help from family members before his arrest.