Pretoria – The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court has transferred the R54 million fraud case against the former acting national police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane, and his co-accused.
The matter will now be heard in Pretoria High Court on 21 October 2024 for a pre-trial conference.
The co-accused include Lieutenant-Colonel Godfrey Mahwayi, Major-General Maanda Obert Nemutandzhela, Major-General Mankosana Agnes Makhele, and businessmen Inbanathan Kistiah and Avendra Naidoo.
The accused face charges of fraud, corruption, theft, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act relating to two contracts valued at approximately R54 million.
The one contract relates to the irregular procurement of software called RIPJAR, meant to be used during the incidents of October 2015, wherein university students embarked on #FeesMustFall protests.
The other alleged irregular contract relates to the procurement of a communication encryption software called Daedalus.
The software was solely used for encrypting calls and wiping out cellphone records and messages when
Lieutenant-General Phahlane was under investigation for the “Blue Lights” police tender.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate was also probing Phahlane, who was acting national police commissioner at the time, for other alleged irregular procurements.
Commenting on the matter on Monday, (23 September 2024), Investigating Directorate Against Corruption spokesperson Henry Mamothame said all the accused, who are out on bail, were expected to appear before the Pretoria High Court next month.
