On charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering relating to the looting of Eskom during the height of state capture at the power company, at least four people have appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court.
Mohammed Mooidheen and Vernon Pillay, two ex-workers of the digital technology giant ABB, and their wives Raeesa Mooidheen and Aradhna Pillay round out the group of four.
Inflating rates for ABB subcontractor Impulse, the four allegedly cashed in on “gratifications estimated at R8.6 million,” according to Sindisiwe Seboka, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (NPA ID).
They were detained in Durban and Mpumalanga and appeared in court in what the National Prosecuting Authority regarded to be a “seminal case.”
“The former ABB employees Mohammed and Vernon are accused of using their positions of power to influence the awarding of more than R549.6 million of the Eskom-ABB contract to Impulse’s advantage between 2015 and 2017.
This is reportedly true even though it was claimed that Impulse was ineligible to perform the necessary task.
Seboka stated that executives at the highest levels of SOEs (State Owned Enterprises) appeared to have enabled or assisted the misappropriation of state monies.
“Eskom was actually at the core of state capture and featured strongly in the Zondo Commission Report,” Seboka added.
The directorate is “hard on the heels” of individuals engaged in State Capture, said NPA ID chief Advocate Andrea Johnson.
This is an obvious example of the ID, Hawks, and SAPS working together, and as we continue to reprioritize cases resulting from the Zondo Commission conclusions, more significant cases will be enrolled.
The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi, the National Commissioner, General Fanie Masemola, and the head of the Hawks, General Lebeya met today to strengthen the working relationship between law enforcement and the NPA in an effort to ensure that those most accountable for alleged corruption and state capture are held accountable and that the rule of law is upheld, according to Johnson.
On October 14, the case is anticipated to pick up again to look into the assets that were taken during a joint search and seizure operation with the Hawks and SARS on properties owned by the four accused.