×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Corruption case against Richard Mdluli scrapped - for now

The fraud and corruption case against suspended former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli and two other senior police officers has been struck off the roll but they may not be off the hook.

Mdluli‚ together with the crime intelligence unit’s former chief financial officer Major-General Solly Lazarus and former head of logistics Colonel Heine Barnard‚ were facing charges of fraud‚ corruption and money laundering. They allegedly stole money from a fund meant to finance undercover crime intelligence operations and used it for personal gain.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said the case was struck off the roll in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on Monday because there was an “outstanding” investigation that still had to be carried out.

He said the matter was previously postponed for the same reason. The court would not allow another postponement.

“Once the investigation is complete‚ the matter will be re-enrolled‚” Mfaku said.

Mdluli’s lawyer‚ Ike Motloung‚ said Mdluli would now focus on another criminal case in which he is standing trial.

“We’ve got two [separate] matters‚ so one down‚” Motloung said.

In the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg‚ Mdluli and former policeman Mthembeni Mthunziface face a host of charges including intimidation‚ assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm‚ kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. The charges relate to the 1999 kidnapping and murder of Oupa Ramogibe‚ who was married to Mdluli’s ex-lover Tshidi Buthelezi. The trial resumes next month.