Deputy Judge President (DJP) Martha Mbhele dismissed on Thursday 3 November 2022 an application made by three of the accused to compel the state to provide further particulars to the defence.

ALSO READ: Free State High Court dismisses Estina/Vrede application

The defence attorneys, including Senior Counsel (SC) Advocates Michael Hellens and Kenny Oldwage, then immediately requested a special entry for their clients, citing alleged irregularities in the court proceedings following the dismissal of this application of further particulars. 

The application was brought by accused 8, Ronica Rogavan, accused 7, Islandsite Investments, and accused 6, Denish Patel. 

Eight accused, including Gupta associate Iqbal Sharma and others, face charges of fraud and money laundering, while former government officials, including Peter Thabethe and others, are also charged with contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Investigative Directorate (ID) spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, say they are satisfied with Judge Mbhele's ruling. 

Seboka says that as the NPA, they have been saying that enough details have been provided to the defence to enable them to prepare for the upcoming trial in January 2023. 

The case is scheduled to commence for trial from 23 January to 3 March 2023.

Seboka earlier said these funds were stolen and then placed at the disposal of the Gupta family. She said the R25 million was purportedly paid to Nulane Investments company to conduct a feasibility study for the Free State Province’s flagship Mohoma Mobung initiative, on the basis that Nulane had unique skills to perform the work.

"Nulane Investments, however, had no employees on its books and, in fact, subcontracted Deloitte to produce the report, for which Deloitte was paid R1.5 million. The only change made to the Deloitte's report was to identify Paras Dairy as a suitable implementing partner for the development of a milk processing plant in Vrede," Seboka added.

Mohoma Mobung is the Free State provincial government’s initiative in line with their Zero Hunger strategy.

OFM News previously reported that according to the state prosecutor, Jacyntha Witbooi, the Free State was one of the provinces often looted by the notorious Gupta family members and associates.

She said this while the R25 million feasibility study fraud and corruption case, related to the Estina case, was still in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court in June 2021.

The accused were granted bail, ranging from R10 000 to R500 000.

OFM News