BL Premium reports that two former members of the State Security Agency (SSA) were arrested on Monday by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) for the misappropriation of about R5.8m in state funds and for money laundering.
Ntshavheni Prince Makhathana and Matome Solomon Ralebipi appeared on the charges in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Makhathana was granted R100,000 bail and Ralebipi R150,000 and their case was postponed to 23 June for pretrial. Makhathana was a former manager of the Cover Support Unit (CSU) of the then National Intelligence Agency (NIA), which in 2009 became the SSA, and was responsible for all its operations and financial expenditure. The state alleges that the covert nature of the CSU allowed him to dispense with a number of financial safeguards. His co-accused, Ralebipi, was a former agent of the NIA. The theft for his personal gain allegedly took place between 2007 and 2010. Accused number three, Ralebipi Properties CC, was allegedly created to serve as a money-laundering platform to conceal the origin of the proceeds of crime and the true ownership of two business properties that were purchased. The accused also allegedly committed fraud, forgery, uttering and perjury to conceal their unlawful misappropriation of these funds. The SSA has a history of being plagued by corruption.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
- Read too, Former intelligence officers arrested for alleged theft of R5.8m in state funds at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
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