Government’s multi-billion rand seizure of assets linked to criminal conduct in the 2014-15 financial year saw the Asset Forfeiture Unit significantly exceeding its previous best-ever performance.
This is according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Annual Report‚ which was made public today.
The NPA report stated that the freezing orders obtained by the Asset Forfeiture Unit – led by advocate Willie Hofmeyr – had exceeded the annual target of R755 million by 265% and last year’s performance by 293%. The unit also exceeded its previous best ever annual performance in 2006/07 by 108%.
Overall‚ the unit recorded:
- 463 completed forfeiture cases with a value of R1.9 billion
- 342 freezing orders to the value of R2.7 billion
- Freezing orders to the value of R2.2 billion and recoveries of R1.5 million relating to cases where the amount benefitted from corrupt activities was more than R5 million
- R1.6 billion paid to the victims of crime
- R11.1 million recovered in cases where government officials were convicted of corruption and other related offences
- An overall success rate of 95.1%.
“The AFU did exceptionally well due to increased productivity and its continued success with the strategy with the Western Cape’s prosecution service. This has increased the number of confiscation orders in relatively small cases by about 90 cases per year over the last four years. This assisted the unit to achieve its best ever performance‚ obtaining 463 forfeiture and confiscation orders – an exceptional 18.7% improvement on its previous best performance of 390 in 2013/14. This performance exceeded the annual target of 324 by 42.9%. The performance within this indicator improved immensely by 53.3% over the last two years.”
The Anti-Corruption Task Team also had a stellar performance‚ the report said. “Almost all the big successes of the AFU in terms of high profile cases have emanated from this unit.”
Twenty-three people were convicted of corruption and related offences where the amount benefited was more than R5 million and 130 government officials were successfully prosecuted for corruption and related offences.
Overall‚ 81% of the total value of freezing orders came from Anti-Corruption Task Team cases — an increase from 64% in the previous year.
The NPA noted that the 1‚656 high and lower courts throughout the country had achieved an overall conviction rate of 92.3% in the 319‚149 cases finalised with a verdict.
The conviction rate in organised crime increased to 92.2% against last year’s 88.9%.
The conviction rate in the prosecution of sexual offences matters was 69%‚ which the national directorate described as “exceptional‚ when one considers the nature of these crimes and the complexity in achieving a successful prosecution”. This is also a 1.9% improvement on the conviction rate achieved in the previous financial year.
A conviction rate of 94.3% was achieved in the prosecution of complex commercial
crime by the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU).
The Missing Persons Task Team‚ which researches and investigates the identification‚ tracing and exhumations of people who disappeared during the apartheid era‚ successfully closed 31 cases‚ the NPA said.
A total of 1‚760 plea and sentence agreements were concluded. This is a 33% increase compared to 1‚323 for the previous financial year. “Valuable court time was saved in the process since lengthy trials were avoided while convictions and suitable sentences were still handed down‚” the report said.
Furthermore‚ the NPA said‚ 184‚314 cases were finalised by means of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (ADRM) of which 3‚221 (1.7% of national total) were
finalised by the regional courts and 181‚093 cases (98.3% of national total) in the district courts.
ADRM encompasses diversion and informal mediation as methods of resolution of disputes
The number of environmental crimes finalised with a verdict increased from the previous year by 60.6% — from 165 to 265 cases
During the year under review‚ the NPA spent R2.6 billion on staff remuneration.
Goods and services cost R38‚4 million‚ including the procurement of a new telephonic system to the value of R29 million.
Criminals feel it in their pockets as Asset Forfeiture Unit closes in
Government’s multi-billion rand seizure of assets linked to criminal conduct in the 2014-15 financial year saw the Asset Forfeiture Unit significantly exceeding its previous best-ever performance.
This is according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Annual Report‚ which was made public today.
The NPA report stated that the freezing orders obtained by the Asset Forfeiture Unit – led by advocate Willie Hofmeyr – had exceeded the annual target of R755 million by 265% and last year’s performance by 293%. The unit also exceeded its previous best ever annual performance in 2006/07 by 108%.
Overall‚ the unit recorded:
- 463 completed forfeiture cases with a value of R1.9 billion
- 342 freezing orders to the value of R2.7 billion
- Freezing orders to the value of R2.2 billion and recoveries of R1.5 million relating to cases where the amount benefitted from corrupt activities was more than R5 million
- R1.6 billion paid to the victims of crime
- R11.1 million recovered in cases where government officials were convicted of corruption and other related offences
- An overall success rate of 95.1%.
“The AFU did exceptionally well due to increased productivity and its continued success with the strategy with the Western Cape’s prosecution service. This has increased the number of confiscation orders in relatively small cases by about 90 cases per year over the last four years. This assisted the unit to achieve its best ever performance‚ obtaining 463 forfeiture and confiscation orders – an exceptional 18.7% improvement on its previous best performance of 390 in 2013/14. This performance exceeded the annual target of 324 by 42.9%. The performance within this indicator improved immensely by 53.3% over the last two years.”
The Anti-Corruption Task Team also had a stellar performance‚ the report said. “Almost all the big successes of the AFU in terms of high profile cases have emanated from this unit.”
Twenty-three people were convicted of corruption and related offences where the amount benefited was more than R5 million and 130 government officials were successfully prosecuted for corruption and related offences.
Overall‚ 81% of the total value of freezing orders came from Anti-Corruption Task Team cases — an increase from 64% in the previous year.
The NPA noted that the 1‚656 high and lower courts throughout the country had achieved an overall conviction rate of 92.3% in the 319‚149 cases finalised with a verdict.
The conviction rate in organised crime increased to 92.2% against last year’s 88.9%.
The conviction rate in the prosecution of sexual offences matters was 69%‚ which the national directorate described as “exceptional‚ when one considers the nature of these crimes and the complexity in achieving a successful prosecution”. This is also a 1.9% improvement on the conviction rate achieved in the previous financial year.
A conviction rate of 94.3% was achieved in the prosecution of complex commercial
crime by the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU).
The Missing Persons Task Team‚ which researches and investigates the identification‚ tracing and exhumations of people who disappeared during the apartheid era‚ successfully closed 31 cases‚ the NPA said.
A total of 1‚760 plea and sentence agreements were concluded. This is a 33% increase compared to 1‚323 for the previous financial year. “Valuable court time was saved in the process since lengthy trials were avoided while convictions and suitable sentences were still handed down‚” the report said.
Furthermore‚ the NPA said‚ 184‚314 cases were finalised by means of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (ADRM) of which 3‚221 (1.7% of national total) were
finalised by the regional courts and 181‚093 cases (98.3% of national total) in the district courts.
ADRM encompasses diversion and informal mediation as methods of resolution of disputes
The number of environmental crimes finalised with a verdict increased from the previous year by 60.6% — from 165 to 265 cases
During the year under review‚ the NPA spent R2.6 billion on staff remuneration.
Goods and services cost R38‚4 million‚ including the procurement of a new telephonic system to the value of R29 million.
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