High Court postpones trial of former Acting National Police Commissioner

The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Pretoria, has postponed the trial against former Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and his co-accused to Thursday.

“The postponement is owed to the State withdrawing charges against an entity. The new prosecution team became aware that the company ceased to exist, prompting the withdrawal of charges against it. Its director remains an accused in his personal capacity in the matter,” the police said in a statement. 

Lieutenant-General Phahlane, Lieutenant-Colonel Godfrey Mahwayi, Major-General Maanda Obert Nemutandzhela, Major-General Mankosana Agnes Makhele and businessmen Inbanathan Kistiah and Avendra Naidoo face charges of fraud, corruption, theft and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) relating to two contracts, valued at approximately R54 million.

One of the contracts relates to the alleged irregular procurement of software known as RIPJAR, which was intended for use during the October 2015 #FeesMustFall protests by university students.

The second alleged irregular contract relates to the procurement of communication-encryption software, known as Daedalus. 

The software was allegedly used to encrypt calls and wipe cellphone records and messages at a time when Phahlane was under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in relation to the “Blue Lights” police tender and other alleged irregular procurement matters during his tenure as Acting National Police Commissioner. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.