News Desk Reporter
A long-running corruption case involving former acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Kgomotso Phahlane was provisionally withdrawn in the Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court today.
Former deputy national commissioner Lieutenant-General Bonang Mgwenya and several senior police officials are also accused in the matter.
The case centres on a 2016 SAPS contract worth just over R191 million for emergency warning equipment for police vehicles.
Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement (ITLE), owned by businessman Vimpie Manthata, was awarded the contract.
About R65 million was paid to ITLE, while a further R22 million payment was stopped during the investigation.
The accused face charges including corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) said the withdrawal is provisional.
Acting Investigating Director Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara intends to consider certain aspects of the case before it is re-enrolled.
No date has been given for its return to court.
The contract involved emergency warning equipment for 1,550 Gauteng police vehicles. The first arrests linked to the matter were made in November 2018.
Phahlane was arrested in March 2019, while Mgwenya was arrested in October 2020.
The case has been before the courts for several years, with the accused previously challenging its continuation.
Phahlane and Mgwenya were among those who applied to have the matter struck off the court roll. That application was dismissed.
The charges remain allegations. All the accused are presumed innocent unless convicted by a court.