Moorosi is among a long line of accused in the R24,9 million Vrede feasibility study criminal case, which sat in the Bloemfontein Regional Court at the top of the week, on Monday 6 September. It was revealed during the virtual proceedings by Moroka Attorneys that Moorosi’s application has reportedly been forwarded to the provincial Finance Department for consideration. The spokesperson for the department, Zimasa Leputla, noted receiving OFM News’ media query earlier in the week but indicated that she was on study leave and the query would be forwarded accordingly. The department to date is yet to respond on the matter.

Moorosi, along with the former Free State Agriculture Department Head, Peter Thabethe, and current Deputy Director-General at the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Sylvia Dlamini, stand accused of overseeing the awarding R24,9 million for a feasibility study - falling under the Mohoma Mobung Initiative - to Nulane Investments, in which former Deputy Director-General (DDG) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Transnet board member, Iqbal Sharma, was a director in 2011. 

Sharma’s brother-in-law Dinesh Patel, on behalf of Nulane Investments, thereafter began engaging Deloitte to subcontract the study, which the forensic auditing firm eventually did for R1,5 million. However, Nulane Investments then 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 thereafter, including that of Islandsite Investments owned by the Gupta family. Islandsite Investments, which according to reports owns 40% of Oakbay Investments, the controversial Gupta mansion in Saxonwold and the family's Cape Town home, is presently under the care of business rescue practitioners.

The state has, in the light of the money laundering allegations, approached Interpol to have them issue red notices for Atul and Rajesh Gupta, as well as their wives Chetali and Arti. Whilst red notices for the Gupta family have been requested, the notices have been issued and greenlit for their associates: former Nulane Investments Bank of Baroda account signatory, Ankit Jain; director of Wone Management, Ravindra Nath; and the directors of Pragat Investments, Ramesh Bhat, and Jagdish Parekh.

During court proceedings, the state announced two possible additions to the accused list in the Vrede feasibility study criminal case. Advocate Nazeer Cassim, appearing on behalf of the state alongside Peter Serunye, says the two additional individuals are yet to be apprehended. The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate, Sindisiwe Seboka, says “during the confirmation of the unlimited restraint order on Nulane and Islandsite Investments respectively last month, new evidence came to the fore that the investigating directorate couldn’t ignore linked to the criminal case,” says Seboka. The state has thus requested the postponement of proceedings to 28 September for the purpose of these new arrests. However, all accused formally return to the dock on 8 October for the purpose of transferring the matter to the Bloemfontein High Court for trial.

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