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Klay 'to claim millions'

Cape Town - Singer Robbie Klay's legal team will be meeting on Monday to finalise a civil claim against singer Jurie Els.

This comes after the prosecuting authority announced in Pretoria on Friday that Els would be prosecuted on the charge that he sexually abused Klay when he was under the age of 16.

Koos van Rensburg, Klay's legal adviser, confirmed on Sunday that a full legal team would be getting together on Monday. He was not yet able to say what amount Klay would be claiming, "but we're not talking about hundreds of thousands of rands here, rather millions", he said.

"The fact that the decision has now been made to prosecute Mr Els, means that we can start to finalise a civil claim."

"The reason why we have not yet been able to announce any amount, is because Robbie's psychological treatment is still in progress. Much will depend on what the psychologists determine regarding the length of his treatment as well as their findings regarding the extent of the psychological damage which has been inflicted on Robbie."

Els to visit SA

Van Rensburg said the plan was not to formally submit the claim at this stage, but rather to wait until the criminal prosecution had been concluded.

"However, that does not mean that the verdict in the criminal trial will influence the civil claim. During a criminal trial, the State must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. In a civil case, the burden of proof on the plaintiff - in this case Robbie - is much lighter, namely on a balance of probabilities."

Friends of Els claim he was planning to come to South Africa from New Zealand later this year anyway, to spend Christmas with his family in Vrede.

No trial date has yet been set, but the possibility exists that the trial will be arranged to coincide with his visit.
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