Case Dismissed Against Publisher With S. Africa Ties

A federal judge on Friday dismissed charges against Publisher John P. McGoff, whom the government accused of failing to register as a foreign agent of the South African government.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Richey ruled that the government failed to file charges against McGoff, who heads Global Communication Corp. of Williamson, Mich., within the required five-year statute of limitations.

Richie said McGoff would have been required to register as an agent up to June 13, 1979. On that day, the judge said, “the obligation of the defendant to register ended and thus triggered the general five-year statute of limitations, which expired approximately two years before this information was filed in this court.”

The judge said he disagreed with the government’s argument that there is no statute of limitations because McGoff never registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department.

The charge against McGoff, 62, stemmed from his attempt in 1974 and 1975 to buy the now-defunct Washington Star newspaper, allegedly with money provided by the South African government, and his 1975 purchase of the Sacramento Union, which he has since sold.

A 1979 investigation by the Pretoria government found that $11.35 million for the purchases was transferred to McGoff through a Swiss bank account.

The Justice Department charged that McGoff acted on behalf of the South African government from mid-February, 1974, to August, 1979, but never registered as an agent.

Prosecutors said they will decide soon whether to appeal.