NPA under fire for ‘poor planning’
And failed to seize R10bn in criminal assets
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has come under fire for failing to meet its target of seizing R10billion worth of assets from criminals, and instead only managed to freeze R455million in assets over the last financial year.
MPs have described this as “poor planning” on the part of the NPA.
National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi meanwhile used the NPA’s presentation before Parliament to defend the organisation’s decision to hire four top legal experts to deal with state capture cases.
Advocates Geoff Budlender, Wim Trengove, Ngwako Maenetje and Tembeka Ngcukaitobi have reportedly been contracted to work on cases emerging from the Zondo Commission of Inquiry. Batohi said the top lawyers were paid acceptable fees.
Batohi stated that she had given chief prosecutor of Pretoria Matric Luphondo a brief to watch the state capture hearings.
However, MPs appeared to have none of it, saying it appeared that the NPA gave the brief to the same advocates when it comes to certain crucial matters. But Batohi said there was nothing wrong with the decision to hire the four senior counsel.
“With regards to the appointment of senior counsel to the investigative directorate, there were basic criteria in the appointments. They have been allocated to certain teams.”
She also said their knowledge of matters was also important in these cases. Reports have indicated that the four senior counsel will be paid R20m.
It is not clear if this amount was introduced after an apparent agreement that each of the advocates would not be paid more than R5m. It is anticipated that a great deal of the work by these legal experts would revolve around the various testimonies that have implicated many government officials who were said to have had close links with the controversial Gupta family.
Last week, the US Treasury Department announced that it had imposed sanctions on the family over allegations of corruption levelled against them. It said the three brothers and Salim Essa, their associate, would not be able to do business with any entity in the US or its subsidiaries.
To beef up their skills and expertise, some of the NPA officials this week began training conducted by US experts who are well versed in the combating and prevention of corruption, money-laundering and other cross-border crimes.
The two-day workshop has also seen organisations such as the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit and Investigative Directorate, the SA Reserve Bank, the SA Police Services, the SA Revenue Service, the Financial Services Conduct Authority and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate all coming on board.