Charges against ANC officials withdrawn
2012-08-17 13:44
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Durban - Charges of fraud and corruption against six people, including two high-ranking ANC KwaZulu-Natal officials, have been withdrawn, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Friday.
"The acting Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Moipone Noko has withdrawn charges against six accused in the Intaka case," provincial NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson said.
Charges were dropped against KwaZulu-Natal legislature speaker Peggy Nkonyeni, economic development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu, Lindelihle Mkhwanazi, Nozibele Phindela, Jabulani Thusi and Ian Blose.
"Upon a thorough and interrogative assessment, available evidence including consultations with some key witnesses, the acting Director of Public Prosecutions in consultation with the prosecution team felt there are no prospects of a successful prosecution, therefore these charges cannot be sustained against them during trial," Ramkisson said.
Water purification
The six were linked to the sale of water purification plants to the KwaZulu-Natal Health Department, allegedly at inflated prices.
Initially, 25 people were implicated in the in the so-called "amigos" corruption case which will be heard on 1 October in the KwaZulu- Natal High Court in Durban.
The "amigos case" is a corruption matter involving Uruguayan businessman Gaston Savoi.
Savoi's company Intaka allegedly paid bribes to ensure that a contract to supply water purifiers and oxygen generators to hospitals, at hugely inflated prices, went its way.
He would go on trial with former provincial treasury boss Sipho Shabalala, who allegedly received a R1m donation for the ANC.
Noko was appointed in July after KwaZulu-Natal's acting head of prosecutions Simphiwe Mlotshwa was ousted, reportedly for refusing to withdraw the charges against the two politicians.
- SAPA
