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Detectives from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) are making inroads on several high-profile police cases – from allegations of state capture and commercial crimes, to organised crime – with some probes successfully concluded, while others are awaiting prosecutorial decisions.
This is according to Hawks head Advocate Godfrey Lebeya, who briefed the Portfolio Committee on Police in the Old Assembly recently.
This update included the successful clampdown on the recent spate of violent cash-in-transit robberies.
“With regard to cash-in-transit robberies, from August 2017 to 22 November 2018, 284 arrests were effected, and 214 of these suspects remain in custody. The others – 31 – were released on bail and 52 convictions have been secured.
“A total of 161 firearms and 116 vehicles have been recovered,” Lebeya said.
Lebeya also briefed members of Parliament on 22 selected cases, out of a case workload of 15 804, that were being investigated by less than 2 600 Hawks members.
On investigations into state capture, he said 800 statements have been obtained in a R2.4 billion fraud, corruption and money laundering case involving Eskom, Tegeta/Trillian and McKinsey.This relates to the pre-payment by Eskom to Tegeta for the purchase of Optimum Coal Holdings amounting to R659 million.
Investigations in this case revealed that the Bank of Baroda played a key role in the facilitation of the funds in the purchasing of Optimum.The matter is under investigation.
He added that in the Estina and Free State Department of Agriculture matter – where the two entered into an agreement to implement and manage a dairy project in Vrede for the benefit of disadvantaged people in the area – Estina was to provide a capital injection of R228 million, which never happened.
“It has been established that the said amount was then transferred to the Bank of Baroda and, thereafter, paid to Oakbay Investments, other companies and individuals and not the Vrede Dairy Project.”
The 11 accused are before court in Bloemfontein on charges ranging from fraud and corruption to money laundering.
Other cases that are still under investigation include the
R1.5 billion VBS Mutual Bank matter, where several municipalities unlawfully made deposits into the bank against National Treasury's regulations. In this case, 71 statements have been taken.
Lebeya said that more than 610 statements have been obtained in an investigation involving the Bosasa group of companies in a matter dating back to between 2004 and 2007.
This relates to tenders that were awarded by the Department of Correctional Services to companies within Bosasa, after services were extended over a period of time amid allegations that officials from Correctional Services received gratification from Bosasa.
The value involved in the fraud, corruption and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act is R1.6 billion.
Lebeya said the Bosasa investigation has been completed.“It is just a matter of finalising the charge sheet so that the individuals involved can be prosecuted.”
He said either an indictment or arrest would accompany the securing of the forensic report.