The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has provisionally withdrawn the corruption case against former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane. Image: File
SAPS
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South Africa
IDAC provisionally withdraws R191m blue-light corruption case against Phahlane, co-accused
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has provisionally withdrawn the multi-million-rand corruption case involving former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and several former senior police officials, saying the matter will be re-enrolled after further consideration of certain aspects of the case.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has provisionally withdrawn the corruption case against former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and his co-accused in connection with a controversial R191 million South African Police Service (SAPS) contract.
IDAC said the decision followed a review by Acting Investigating Director Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara, who intends to further peruse certain aspects of the case before it is re-enrolled.
The matter had previously been referred to the IDAC Review Panel, which found that the case had been properly authorised and fell within the directorate’s mandate.
The accused face charges including corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering linked to a 2016 SAPS contract for the supply of emergency warning equipment.
The contract was worth just over R191 million, with approximately R65 million paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Ltd.
IDAC said a further payment of R22 million was stopped during the investigation before it could be made.
Phahlane was charged alongside several former senior police officials, including former Deputy National Commissioner for Human Resources Management Lieutenant General Bonang Mgwenya, former Gauteng Police Commissioner Deliwe de Lange, Gauteng Deputy Police Commissioner Nombhuruza Lettie Napo, retired Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena, retired Major General Ravichandran Pillay, Colonel Thomas Dumas Marima and Sergeant Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa.
Civilians Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews and Vimpie Manthata, the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, are also among those accused.
The accused had previously sought to have the matter struck off the court roll, but their application was dismissed.
IDAC stressed that the case has been provisionally withdrawn, meaning the decision does not amount to a final abandonment of the charges.
The directorate said it intends to re-enrol the matter after the relevant aspects have been considered.
