By Khulile Thwala
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authourity’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Investigating Directorate (ID) have seized assets worth E165 million from Kwa-Zulu Natal Businessman Thoshan Panday, former Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, and seven others.
The National Prosecuting Authority was granted a restraint order of E165 million against Panday and his ex-wife, former provincial commissioner, and seven others. The execution of the court order by the appointed curator took place on April 17.
The restraint order has been granted in terms of Chapter 5 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA) against the property/assets of the nine persons charged and persons or entities to whom they gave gifts.
Read More: E1.3 billion worth of Cocaine seized by SAPS, SARS Customs
The alleged criminal syndicate is accused of acting in common purpose to deprive SAPS of an amount of over E47.3 million through acts of fraud, corruption, forgery, bribery, and money laundering before and during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
This is according to a statement issued by NPA Investigating Directorate Spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka. The order of over E165 million is the amount of the proceeds of unlawful activities received by the enterprise, and the individual parties in furtherance of the conspiracy and/or common purpose and/or the commissioning of the crimes.
Read More: South Africa added to grey list
The state alleges that three former SAPS officials failed to follow the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act, amongst others, deliberately delaying applications for procurement authority from the National Office for accommodation for the 2010 World Cup and deliberately not following up on invitations they had sent to existing service providers.
Thereby causing the need to procure accommodation for SAPS members for the 2010 World Cup on an urgent basis and at inflated rates, a mere couple of days before the world cup was due to start.
