GAUTENG. – The National Prosecuting Authority's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Idac) has temporarily withdrawn the multimillion-rand corruption case against the former acting national police commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, and his co-accused. The case relates to a contract worth just over R191 million for the supply of emergency warning equipment to the police in 2016.
Henry Mamothame, Idac's spokesperson, says the acting investigation director, Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, wishes to study certain aspects of the case further before it is placed back on the court roll. The case has already been considered by the review panel, which found it to be properly authorised and to fall within Idac's mandate. The accused are standing trial on charges of corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering. According to Idac, R65 million was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Ltd, while a further payment of R22 million was prevented during Idac's investigation. Phahlane is being prosecuted together with, among others, Lieutenant-General Bonang Mgwenya, Deliwe de Lange, Nombhuruza Lettie Napo, Lieutenant-General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena, General Ravichandran Pillay, Colonel Thomas Dumas Marima and Sergeant Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa. The civilians in the case are Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews and Vimpie Manthata, the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Ltd. A previous attempt by the accused to have the case removed from the court roll was dismissed by the court.
Idac says the temporary withdrawal follows Vanara's decision to study certain aspects of the dossier before the case is enrolled again. The withdrawal should therefore not be regarded as a final termination of the prosecution.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
