From the news desk

Mdluli walks free

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The National Prosecuting Authority on Monday confirmed that fraud and corruption charges against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli and two others had been struck off the roll.

“I can confirm that the matter was heard in court and it was struck off the roll,”said NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku.

“This was because of outstanding investigations. But once the investigation is completed, the case will be re-enrolled,” Mfaku said.

Eyewitness News reported that the National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega was to blame for this as she had been unwilling to declassify certain documents assisting the State’s case.

Her spokesperson, Solomon Makgale, could not immediately give details around the case.

Mdluli, former financial head of the police’s crime intelligence unit, Solly Lazarus and former head of procurement Colonel Heine Barnard were to face charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court.

It was alleged that Mdluli employed his friends and family as intelligence operatives, and misused police money to buy luxury cars.

According to the charge sheet, the fraud amounted to about R1.28m.

The case against them was withdrawn in December 2011, and no reasons were given at the time.

Mdluli was made head of the crime intelligence division in 2009, a post he held until May 2012, when Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced he would be moved to the office of the deputy national police commissioner for operations, Fannie Masemola.

Mdluli faces a separate set of charges pre-dating his time as head of crime intelligence. He was allegedly involved in the murder of Oupa Ramogibe, his ex-lover’s husband, on February 17 1999.

An inquest into this matter concluded in November 2012 that there was no evidence implicating Mdluli in Ramogibe’s murder.

Following an application by Freedom Under Law, North Gauteng High Court Judge John Murphy on September 23 2013 instructed police to reinstate all criminal charges against Mdluli. News24


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