The Blue Lights R191 million fraud and theft case has been postponed to November after former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and co-accused obtained legal representatives late and others yet to do so.
Yesterday the suspects appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Ekurhuleni and the case was postponed to November 2, 2022.
The matter relates to a contract to supply emergency warning equipment for the SAPS in 2016.
According to NPA’s Investigating Directorate, the contract was worth R191 million.
However, R65 million was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law enforcement (Pty) Ltd. A further payment of R22 million was stopped as a result of the investigation into the matter by the Investigating Directorate and Ipid.
“The blue lights case is postponed to 2 November for representations by accused Phahlane submitted on the eve of the court appearance. And accused Mngwenya of submitting a request for further particulars. And accused 3 Ramanjalum to obtain legal representation,” Investigative Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said.
The accused are Phahlane and former Deputy National Commissioner Bonang Mgwenya, former Gauteng Police Commissioner Deliwe de Lange; Gauteng Deputy Police Commissioner Nombhuruza Lettie Napo, Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena (retired divisional commissioner); Brigadier James Ramanjalum; Thomas Dumas Marima (colonel) and Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa (sergeant).
The civilians are Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews, Vimpie Manthatha the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law enforcement (Pty) Ltd.
The group faces charges of corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering.
In May this year the bid to have the case struck off the roll by the suspects including Phahlane failed,
Ramanjalum is also facing charges along with 14 other accused in connection with the R1.9 million SAPS PPE procurement, in March this year he was denied bail. It is alleged that Ramanjalum plotted to kill those investigating and prosecuting him.
Meanwhile, The R745 million matter involving former Eskom senior executives i n the same court was postponed yesterday.
The accused are former Eskom Contracts Manager France Hlakudi, former Eskom Group Executive for Group Capital Division Abram Masango, businessman Maphoko Kgomoeswana and CEO of Tubular Construction Antonio Trindade who was a service provider to Eskom, as well as seven other companies.
They face charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
The allegations stem from their various roles in defrauding Eskom in Mpumalanga Kusile Power Station, a contract initially valued at R745 million between 2014 to 2017.
“The matter was postponed to 4 November 2022 for the accused to weigh their options after they abandoned the 342A unreasonable delay application,” Seboka said.