The NPA briefed the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services in Parliament on Tuesday 25 October 2022, on its annual report 2021/22.

The NPA has achieved a marked improvement in performance during this financial year and has clear initiatives in place to maintain this progress. pic.twitter.com/62m5Qmmam5

— NPASouthAfrica (@NPA_Prosecutes) October 25, 2022

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), R117 million has been recovered from corruption cases, including optimum coal mine Colliery/Tegeta exploration involving the notorious Guptas. The NPA has since applied for a restraint order of assets with over R500 million against Nulane Investments, involving the so-called Guptas Iqbal Sharma Lieutenant.

The NPA’s Independent Directorate (ID) Sindisiwe Seboka, says: “We can confirm that a restraint order for the Nulane Investments matter is an unlimited restraint, however, quantified in realisable assets to R520 million. What this means is that we have successfully restrained those assets. Pending the finalisation of the criminal matter of S v Peter Thabethe and others, should we receive a conviction the assets can be confiscated and forfeited to the state.”

R25 million was allegedly paid in 2011/12 to Iqbal Sharma's Nulane Investments, purportedly to ascertain the feasibility of the Vrede Dairy Project in the Free State under the Mohoma Mobung initiative, with the presumption that Nulane Investments had unique skills to perform the work.

Eight suspects, including Sharma, former Free State departmental accounting officers and representatives of involved companies, have since been arrested and are facing charges of fraud and corruption among others in the Free State High Court.

The case is still in its pre-trial stage and all parties involved are yet to conclude the case management process, which will then enable them to proceed with the trial next year.

During the last court appearance at the High Court, Deputy Judge President (DJP), Martha Mbhele, postponed the matter of case management to November 3 this year.

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According to Seboka, the court will be dealing with the case management session aimed at finalising the outstanding procedures ahead of the trial, scheduled from 23 January to 3 March 2023.

ALSO READ: #Estina: State ready for trial

The other accused in the matter include former Transnet Board member Sharma, former Free State HOD for Rural Development, Peter Thabethe, and former Chief Financial Officer, Seipati Dhlamini, and Ronica Rogavan. They face charges of fraud and money laundering. The former government officials are also charged with contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. The group is charged together with two companies, Nulane Investments 204 (Pty) Ltd and Islandsite Investments Pty Ltd.

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