By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
Former national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, several high-ranking generals in the Crime Intelligence Division and two businessmen have been released on bail ranging from R5 000 to R50 000.
Phahlane, Godfrey Mahwayi, Maanda Nemutanzhella, Avendra Naidoo, Inbanathan Kistiah and Mankosana Makhele were arrested on Tuesday on charges of fraud, corruption and theft involving R54-million social media monitoring tender in 2016.
They appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday following their arrest in a series of raids across the country over a R54-million procurement scandal.
The arrests this week relate to a procurement by Crime Intelligence (CI) from I-View which took place between 20 December 2016 and March 2017. In this instance, CI had supposedly forked out R33-million to I-View for software aimed at monitoring #FeesMustFall social media platforms.
While the amount was paid, Ipid could, however, find no evidence that the goods or services had in fact been rendered. Investigators found no evidence that the Ripjar software had even been installed on the SAPS Crime Intelligence systems.
Another system, Daedalus, which cost R21-million, was also procured from I-View by CI. This was to encrypt phone calls. At the time, Phahlane was under investigation in a “blue lights” matter and was seeking to have his phone calls scrambled.
That services were not rendered for goods paid in these CI procurements from the secret fund suggests it was intended for other purposes.
NPA Investigative Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka says the tenders were awarded to Brainwave Projects CC t/a I-View Integrated Systems, who have also been indicted.
“They purported to buy the RIPJAR software from a company that is not involved in software engineering but was a security alarm and surveillance cameras company. The owners of the so-called competing companies were friends, who in fact and in truth, were involved in cover quoting.”
“The accused were released on bail of R5 000, R10 000, R50 000 and three of the accused were released on R20 000 bail each.”
The case has been postponed to 7 December.
Meanwhile, during the accused’s appearance, the courtroom was packed to capacity, resulting in some media houses being barred from covering proceedings. Only eNCA, the SABC and Newzroom Afrika were allowed to cover the case.