The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Sipho Ngwema, has confirmed to OFM News that the state is slapping the 47-year-old businessman Edwin Sodi with charges of bribery too. 

He says this after the accused on Wednesday allegedly tried to bribe officials following his arrest. He is alleged to have brought cash along when taken into police custody, with the intention of bribing these officials. Sodi and other co-accused on Friday were granted bail, with amounts ranging between R500 000 and R50 000, following their arrests on Wednesday and Thursday by the Hawks.

Six of the seven people were arrested on Wednesday by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, during a synchronised operation in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The seventh suspect handed himself over at midday on Thursday. These suspects are facing charges ranging from fraud, corruption, and money laundering, amongst others.  

On Friday, State Prosecutor Johan de Nysschen told Magistrate Mxolisi Saliwa that the state's case against the accused in the Free State's asbestos case is 80% to 85% completed. 

Sodi, who is the owner and CEO of Blackhead Consulting (Pty) was released on R500 000 bail.

His co-accused - Nthimotse Mokhesi (61), former Free State HOD: Human Settlements; Sello Joseph Radebe (56), a businessman from Fourways, Johannesburg; Thabane Wiseman Zulu (53) a former Director-General of the National Department of Human Settlements; and Sarah Matawana Mlamleli (63) of Bloemfontein, the former Free State MEC for Human Settlements and ousted Mayor of Mangaung - were granted R100 000 bail each.

Mahlomola John Matlakala (42), Director: Supply Chain Management at the Free State Human Settlements Department, and Abel Kgotso Manyeki (38), a businessman from Clubview, Pretoria, were released on R50 000 bail, according to Ngwema.

He further states that fraud, to the value of R255 million, was committed in the appointment of Blackhead Consultants in a joint venture with Diamond Hill. An amount of R230 million was paid to the initial contracting company and Sodi, the director of the company, Blackhead Consultants, is still attempting to secure in court the “remaining” payment of the rest of the money, which is R25 million, from Diamond Hill.

The current loss to the department is, therefore, R230 million and a further potential loss is R25 million. The procurement process was done in a fraudulent and corrupt manner. In addition, certain public officials received gratification from the company and/or an individual amounting to several counts of corruption involving more than R2 million, He adds. The suspects will be back in court again on November 11.

OFM News