THE pre-trial and consultation on the matter that involves 23 accused facing charges of fraud, theft, and corruption tied to a SAPS contract for vehicle repairs is expected to begin in the Tshwane High Court on Thursday morning, 16 November.
This comes after six contracts were awarded at significantly inflated prices, amounting to R172 516.
The accused, which include 13 former police officers and six SAPS administrative clerks, as well as various businesspersons, are alleged to have colluded to benefit Paroex Auto and Mechanical Holdings PTY LTD.
According to the Investigative Directorate (ID), this company falsely claimed that its directors or owners had not engaged in state business within 12 months prior to submitting the six price quotations.
ID spokeswoman Sindisiwe Seboka said fraudulent BBBEE certificates were attached to the bid documents, and false business addresses were provided, along with inflated prices.
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She said the former police officers and government employees are accused of misrepresenting their adherence to resource committee requirements imposed by the PFMA and common law for tender awards.
The businesspersons involved are Kishene Chetty, Volan Prithiviraj, Kumarasen Prithiviraj, and Linda Lubanyana.
The accused include former Brigadier Lesetja Mogotlane, Colonel Lawrence Thahane, Lieutenant-Colonel Tshepo Mashego, former Lieutenant-Colonel Veeran Naipal, retired Lieutenant-Colonel Thurston Stadler, retired Captain Willem Jansen, former Captain Rudolph Smit, former Captain Schalk Coetzee, former Captain Pieter Jacobs, Captain Zelda Botha, former Warrant Officer Andre Simpson, retired Warrant Officer Famanda Mashele, and former Warrant Officer Modikwa Tsebenhlane.
“The administrative support staff involved are former senior administration clerks Suzette Spang, Malumisi Mafhoho, Joseph Monyoko, Anna du Preez, Marna Bornman, as well as Lethabo Mamabolo,” said Seboka.
Tshwane businessman Kishene Chetty is also facing other cases where he and seven former SAPS members face a number of charges including corruption, fraud, theft, forgery, uttering, assisting another person in benefiting from the proceeds of crime, and acquiring, possessing or using the proceeds of unlawful activities relating to the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the SAPS worth about R8,5 million.
