South Africa
Brian Molefe, Anoj Singh among Transnet executives arrested─── 09:59 Mon, 29 Aug 2022
Several former Transnet executives were arrested and are expected to appear in court on Monday.
The executives were handcuffed on Monday morning by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate, assisted by the Hawks.
Brian Molefe, Transnet’s former group chief executive, and Anoj Singh, the parastatal’s former finance chief, are believed to be among the four people arrested, according to News24.
Fraud and corruption case
They are expected to appear at the Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court and will be added to the fraud and corruption case involving former Transnet CEO, Siyabonga Gama.
Gama was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
He and other former top executives and businessmen are appearing on corruption charges. Their arrests are related to a R93-million train purchase tender.
Gama will be joined by former acting CFO Garry Pita and former treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi.
Gama and Ramosebudi are in the dock with Regiments shareholder Eric Wood, Trillian co-founder Daniel Roy and Kuben Moodley, an alleged “fixer” for the Guptas.
During their last court appearance on 27 May, the accused were granted bail totalling R425 000.
Regional Magistrate Brian Nemavhidi granted Gama, Pita and Roy bail of R50 000 each, while Wood and Ramosebudi were granted bail of R250 000 and R25 000 respectively.
SIU freezes luxury properties
Earlier this month, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Transnet obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze luxury properties and pension benefits linked to the Transnet executives and their spouses.
The assets are valued at approximately R1.8 million, pending the final determination of civil proceedings for recovery of damages or losses and disgorgement of secret profits.
ALSO READ: R2,3bn recovered from Eskom, Transnet corruption
The SIU and Transnet had approached the Special Tribunal following an investigation that revealed that the two Transnet executives allegedly received unlawful financial benefits worth approximately R10 million from Transnet service providers Superfecta Trading 209 (Superfecta) and BBDM Bros Advertising Agency (BBDM).
“The executives allegedly used unlawful financial benefits to acquire luxury properties on behalf of trusts administered by themselves and their spouses,” said the SIU.
