The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) says it will review certain aspects of the case before deciding whether to re-enrol the matter.
IDAC has provisionally withdrawn the multi-million-rand corruption case against former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and his co-accused.
The decision was taken after Acting Investigating Director Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara decided to review certain aspects of the case before it is potentially re-enrolled.
The accused face charges of corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering linked to a 2016 South African Police Service (SAPS) contract for the supply of emergency warning equipment, commonly associated with police blue lights.
According to IDAC, the contract was worth just over R191 million.
Of this amount, R65 million was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (Pty) Ltd.
IDAC said a further payment of R22 million was prevented from being made during an advanced stage of its investigation.
The matter was previously considered by an IDAC Review Panel, which found that the investigation had been properly authorised and fell within the directorate’s mandate.
The latest withdrawal does not amount to a finding that the accused are innocent, nor does it mean that the allegations have been permanently abandoned.
IDAC said the matter could be re-enrolled once the Acting Investigating Director has completed his review.
Who is accused?
Phahlane is charged alongside several former and serving senior police officials, including former Deputy National Commissioner for Human Resource Management Lieutenant General Bonang Mgwenya and former Gauteng police commissioner Deliwe de Lange.
Other accused include Gauteng Deputy Police Commissioner Nombhuruza Lettie Napo, retired Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Johannes Mokwena, retired Major General Ravichandran Pillay, Colonel Thomas Dumas Marima and Sergeant Maetapese Joseph Mulaiwa.
The civilian accused are Judy Rose, Samantha Andrews and Vimpie Manthata, the owner of Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement.
The accused had previously sought to have the case struck from the court roll, but their application was dismissed.
What is the blue-light case about?
The case centres on a SAPS procurement contract concluded in 2016 for emergency warning equipment.
The investigation forms part of broader efforts by South African law enforcement authorities to scrutinise allegations of corruption and irregular procurement involving senior police officials and public funds.
The R191 million contract is significant because only R65 million had reportedly been paid to the service provider, while investigators managed to prevent a further R22 million payment from being made.
The charges against the accused relate to alleged irregularities in the procurement and handling of the contract. The accused remain entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the decision to provisionally withdraw the case followed careful consideration by Vanara.
The directorate has not indicated when the matter will be re-enrolled, saying the Acting Investigating Director first needs to complete his review of the outstanding aspects of the case.
