Johannesburg – Former Eskom contractor Michael Harry Lomas, who was extradited from the United Kingdom to face corruption charges involving R1,4 billion, will remain in custody after his bail hearing was postponed.
The 77-year-old accused appeared in the high court in Johannesburg on Friday, (17 January 2025), where the Investigating Directorate against Corruption (IDAC) legal representative opposed the bail application.
The high court postponed Lomas’ bail application to 24 January 2025.
Lomas is facing multiple charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering, relating to the upgrade of Kusile Power Station in Mpumalanga.
Following the successful extradition from the United Kingdom in September 2024, Lomas appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
However, the matter was transferred to the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court before being moved to the high court, where Lomas’ case was joined to that of the 11 other co-accused.
In all these court appearances Lomas reserved his right to apply for bail.
Last month, December 2024, Lomas filed a notice with the high court indicating his intention to apply for bail.
Lomas and 11 others face 41 counts of corruption involving R1,4 billion linked to the upgrade of Eskom’s Kusile Power Station in Mpumalanga.
The crimes were allegedly committed between 2014 and 2017.
Meanwhile, IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the main corruption matter has been set for pretrial to be heard on 5 March 2025.
