Mdluli graft case postponed

STATE FUNDING AT ISSUE: CHARGES OF CORRUPTION, GRAFT, FRAUD BETWEEN 2008 AND 2012

The High Court in Pretoria this week again postponed the corruption matter involving former SA Police Service Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli, former supply chain manager

Heine Barnard and former chief financial officer of the State Security Agency Solomon Lazarus to 7 September.

The matter was postponed with Mdluli in court, but the other two accused were not present due to Covid-related issues, said the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka.

Mdluli is awaiting feedback on state funding for his case. Barnard and Lazarus have also applied to the state for legal funding.

“Mdluli and his co-accused face charges of corruption, fraud, and theft committed between 2008 and 2012, when they were at the helm of the police crime intelligence services,” said Seboka.

“The charges are related to allegations of gross abuse of the police intelligence slush fund.

“They include payment of private trips to China and Singapore, private use of witness protection houses, conversion of this property for personal use and the leasing out of Mdluli’s private residence to the state to pay his bond.”

Last month, it was reported that NPA boss Shamila Batohi had demanded answers from South Gauteng director of public prosecutions Andrew Chauke on why Mdluli was not prosecuted on a murder charge related to the 1999 death of Oupa Ramogibe.