South Africa
Action expected soon on VBS looting - Hawks head─── 09:14 Sun, 10 Nov 2019
Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya says he expects imminent action in the case against those responsible for looting the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.
In an exclusive interview with News24 at his office in Silverton, Pretoria this week, Lebeya said that certain "legs" of the VBS investigation had been finalised and were "ready" to go.
It's also understood that the investigation docket is sitting on the desk of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi. She must make a decision on whether or not arrests must be executed.
Last year, advocate Terry Motau released his report, titled The Great Bank Heist, into fraud and corruption at the bank, compiled with Werksmans Attorneys. It estimated that nearly R2bn was looted from the bank. More than 50 people benefitted.
Motau recommended criminal charges be instituted. The South African Reserve Bank is the complainant in the criminal case being investigated by the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks).
