Eastern Cape Chief Director of Community Safety and Liaison, Neil Naidoo, businessmen Kenny Govender and Matthew Pillay, on Monday appeared before the East London Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption, theft and defeating the ends of Justice.
Naidoo, Govender, and Pillay are accused of attempting to bribe investigating officials who were probing a dodgy R36 million SA Police Service (SAPS) Contract.
Allegations are that the accused attempted to bribe investigating officials for R3.5 million to stop a probe into a multimillion-rand national police tender they were involved in.
The trio is also accused of defeating the ends of justice.
The matter under investigation relates to a contract awarded to KJP trading Pty Ltd for the supply of furniture to various SAPS offices across the country over two years.
Allegations are that on 12 March 2022, Naidoo initiated talks between the investigators and the two businessmen to “iron out or halt” investigations.
Sindisiwe Seboka, Investigating Directorate national spokesperson, said unbeknownst to the accused, the investigators set up a sting operation.
In an undercover operation, Pillay and Govender agreed to pay a bribe of R3.5 million by 5 April 2022.
Investigations reveal that Pillay and Govender paid R1.8 million over to Naidoo on 14 April 2022.
Naidoo allegedly pocketed R300 000 for himself before he delivered R1.5 million to the undercover police officers.
The trio will spend the night in jail after the court deferred the bail hearing of the accused to Tuesday, 24 May 2022.
