More suspects to be added in Phahlane case
The alleged kickbacks were in the form of vehicles supplied to the police officers
MORE suspects will be added in the case against former acting police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane, who has been charged with fraud, money laundering and corruption.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said more suspects would appear alongside Phahlane when he and his co-accused returned to court.
Phahlane yesterday appeared with his wife, Beauty, and businessman Durand Snyman in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria.
The matter was postponed to June 7 for further pre-trial procedures. The trio is facing six charges of corruption amounting to R900 000.
They are also accused of contravening the provisions of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
The matter relates to the construction of Phahlane’s multimillion-rand home and his fleet of luxury cars.
Prosecutor Chris Smith asked that the matter be postponed as outstanding documents still needed to be handed over to the accused’s legal teams.
The Phahlanes and Snyman, who made their first appearance in court last month, were each granted R10 000 bail.
The charges stem from alleged kickbacks the former top cop, his wife and other senior officers received for the awarding of lucrative forensic supply tenders while Phahlane headed the forensic division.
The alleged kickbacks were in the form of vehicles supplied to the police officers, either at a discounted rate or through paying them inflated prices for their vehicles, which they sold to Snyman.
Ipid, which is heading the investigation, alleged that police supplier Keith Keating, who owns Forensic Data Analyst, facilitated the payment for the cars for the Phahlanes through the Pretoria car dealership owned by Snyman.
Some of the cars include a grey Land Rover Discovery 4, a silver Nissan Navara, a Toyota Hilux 3.0, a grey Mercedes Benz C250, a silver VW Polo, and a silver Ford Rover.
Ipid alleges kickbacks were given to Phahlane through the sale of discounted vehicles to himself, his wife and several other police officers.
Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini said there was a strong case against Phahlane, who is facing at least six counts of corruption.
The Hawks last year raided properties belonging to Phahlane and Keating, who is accused of gifting Phahlane with expensive cars in return for favours.
But Phahlane, who was the head of the police forensic unit at the time of the alleged dealings, has denied any corrupt deals and claims the cars were part of a sponsorship.
He was relieved of his duties in June last year amid the allegations of corruption.