The corruption case of former Transnet executive Brian Molefe and his co-accused has been postponed to October 11 for a trial date.
On Friday, Molefe, former Transnet chief financial officer (CFO) Anoj Singh, former company chief executive Siyabonga Gama, ex-CFO Garry Pita, former group treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, as well as Regiments Capital directors Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonhya, Trillian Asset Management’s director Daniel Roy (Novum Asset Management), Kuben Moodley, and Albatime owner, appeared before the Johannesburg High Court on charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and fraud.
Spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) investigating directorate (ID), Henry Mamothame, said all parties agreed that the state would reply by September 17 to further particulars from the defence attorneys.
Objection to Abrahams’ participation
Mamothame said the state has put it on record that it objects to advocate Shaun Abrahams representing Molefe in the matter, as he was the national director of public prosecutions when the strategy was put in place for prosecuting the matter.
Mamothame said Judge Mohamed Ismail ordered both parties to resolve the matter within two weeks.
Molefe and his co-accused are facing charges of fraud, corruption, and money-laundering stemming from the locomotives transaction advisory tender awarded to the McKinsey-led consortium in 2012, which resulted in the procurement of 1 064 locomotives valued at more than R54-billion.
Value of the contract increased
“Regiments Capital was irregularly brought into the contract and benefited from Transnet’s irregular appointment, increasing the contract’s value and scope to over R305-million.
“Their services included sourcing loans from the China Development Bank and the Club, amounting to $2.5-billion [R46-billion], equivalent to R30-billion at the time, on behalf of Transnet,” said Mamothame.
Additionally, the accused also face charges related to the R93.4-million payment to Trillion Asset Management in 2015.
Mamothame said the ID “is on course to ensure that those allegedly responsible for state capture are held accountable and that impunity is no longer a given”.
He said all the accused are expected back in court in October, when the matter resumes.
