According to the Investigative Directorate (ID) spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, two suspects are charged with fraud involving R37,7 million. She says the case against the Gupta associates, Kamal Vasram and Saliesh Indurjeeth, has been postponed to 27 September 2022 for pre-trial proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. She says the postponement in the matter was to allow the defence to request further particulars. 

Seboka adds that the pair also faces charges related to the contravention of the International Trade Administration Act and the contravention of the Exchange Control Act. Currently there are two separate cases linked to the failed Estina project in the Free State High Court.

The two cases include the Rekgonne Community Projects where it’s alleged that in June 2014, the Rekgonne Community Projects entered into an agreement with this Department of Agriculture to implement all projects on behalf of the department for a period of two years. 

The Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, previously confirmed to OFM News during January 2012 to December 2016, the department is said to have paid over R244 million to Rekgonne Community Projects, as well as into some of the suspects' bank accounts.

Another case includes a company of the Gupta lieutenant, Iqbal Sharma. It’s also alleged that in 2011, the Free State Agriculture Department paid almost R25 million to Nulane Investments, which was owned by former Transnet board member, Sharma, for the Vrede feasibility study. Nulane Investments – represented by Sharma’s brother-in-law Dinesh Patel – then negotiated and subcontracted the same feasibility study to forensic auditing firm, Deloitte, for R1,5 million.

They went further and subcontracted the work - already carried out by Deloitte - to Gateway Limited and paid them R19 million. The state alleges the funds were thereafter laundered into varied accounts, including that of Islandsite Investments. It is for the money laundering that occurred that the Gupta family has now been linked to the case.

OFM News