More arrests due in Transnet case
● There are already 10 accused before court, but more are set to join former Transnet bosses Brian Molefe and Anoj Singh in the dock for their R93m fraud and corruption case.
Molefe and Singh, a former Transnet CFO, appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge alongside Regiments directors Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonyha, who were also arrested this week on charges stemming from the locomotives transaction advisory contract awarded in 2012.
They were all joined in the case involving another former Transnet group CEO, Siyabonga Gama, his former acting CFO Garry Pita, former group treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, Regiments Capital shareholder and Trillian boss Eric Wood, his employee Daniel Roy and alleged Gupta fixer Kuben Moodley.
The four were granted R50,000 bail each after their arrests on Monday, and will be back in court in October. All have indicated that they will plead not guilty.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, said other suspects would be added to the case, though she could not give details “as the final charge sheet is yet to be handed in in court”.
“Further arrests will be made leading up to the October 14 appearance,” she said.
Molefe and Singh feature prominently in a 423-page provisional charge sheet released this week. Among other charges, they are accused of failing to disclose that Regiments was appointed to their contract with Transnet to facilitate the receipt of bribes by Moodley, Gupta business partner Salim Essa and the Guptas themselves through their companies.
The charge sheet also alleges that Molefe, Singh, Gama and Pita allowed Wood, Pillay, Moodley and Essa to “capture the procurement systems of Transnet through the appointment” of Regiments, and later Trillian, to ensure that Moodley, Essa and the Guptas “benefited from public funds”.
The former Transnet executives are also charged with inflating the budgets of contracts awarded to Regiments and Trillian to accommodate “gratifications” for the Guptas and their associates.