Johannesburg – Former Transnet boss Brian Molefe and Anoj Singh – the former Transnet CFO – were among the executives arrested on Monday in connection with massive corruption and fraud involving R398.4 million..
The individuals were arrested by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate assisted by the Hawks.
Molefe and Singh – whose arrest was arranged through their lawyers – appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court, where they said they had not seen the details of the charges against them.
However, they both denied any wrong doing.
Regiments Capital executives Litha Nyhonyha and Niven Pillay also appeared in the dock in the same matter.
The accused join former group chief executive of Transnet Siyabonga Gama, former group chief financial officer Garry Pita, former group treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, Regiments shareholder Eric Wood, Trillian Asset Management current Director Daniel Roy (Novum Asset Management) and Kuben Moodley, Albatime Pty Ltd owner.
The former Transnet executives and their co-accused are charged with contravention of the PFMA and fraud, while the other accused were charged with fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
Allegations are that in 2012 Transnet went on a request for proposal tender to get transaction advisory services to secure funding for $2.5 billion (equivalent to R30 billion at the time) to fund the acquisition of the controversial 1 064 locomotives deal.
All the accused in the dodgy dealings including the R93 million Transnet advisory services tender denied any wrongdoing and indicated that they indented to plead not guilty as they requested bail.
The state did not oppose bail.
Molefe, Singh, Pillay and Nyhonyha were all granted bail of R50 000 each. Their bail conditions include handing in of their passports.
They will all be back in court 14 October 2022.
Commenting on the matter Head of the Investigating Directorate (ID), Advocate Andrea Johnson, said: “Transnet is considered one of the primary sites of massive looting of state funds at the peak of the state capture project.
“Today’s arrest and court appearance of additional senior executives reflects a significant milestone and outcome of our complex investigations.
“We, in collaboration with the Hawks, will ensure that we continue to follow the evidence and arrest and prosecute those who are fingered to have been alleged to be part of looting the state coffers.
“As the ID we have made commitments to reclaim the state and ensure that impunity is no longer a given.”
ID National Spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said: “The state further issued warrants of arrest for Salim Essa and Ashok Narayan who is currently out of the country”.
