[ad_1]
Olly Mlamleli, a former mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, is reportedly among those arrested in connection with the controversial multi-billion dollar asbestos audit project in the Free State, while another former government official is apparently on the run.
According to a reliable source, Mlamleli’s arrest was related to his role in the 255 million rand asbestos deal that was awarded to a joint venture by entrepreneurs Edwin Sodi and the late Phikolomzi Ignatius “Igo” Mpambani.
According to OFM News, the former mayor was apparently absent from Wednesday’s council meeting, citing health concerns.
His arrest follows that of Edwin Sodi, who was reportedly arrested by the Hawks Wednesday morning for his involvement in the asbestos looting scheme. The Hawks also arrested the former head of the human settlements department in the Free State, Nthimose Mokhesi, and the former director general of the national human settlements department, Thabane Zulu.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Mulaudzi confirmed that six people were arrested in connection with the asbestos project saga, but did not confirm whether Mlamleli was among those arrested.
“I can confirm that as of now, three senior government officials have been arrested. There is one that is outstanding. We also arrested three businessmen today, ”Mulaudzi said.
They face a number of charges including theft, money laundering, corruption and fraud. They would appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday, Mulaudzi said.
A former government official working nationally was apparently on the run.
Hawks NCO Lynda Steyn confirmed that the Hawks have asked the former government official to turn himself in. Steyn said the Hawks cannot at this time confirm the identities of those arrested until they have appeared in court on Friday.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the state capture commission of inquiry, Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo, has continued to hear testimony from different witnesses about the asbestos audit project over the past few days.
This includes evidence that a joint venture between Sodi and the late businessman Phikolomzi Ignatius “Igo” Mpambani, won a contract for 255 million rand to remove asbestos from houses in the province, for work that could have been done for 21 million. of rand.
According to testimony Zondo has heard, the joint venture did little or no work, and the third subcontractor on the contract did most of the work, which was counting the houses in the Free State that were required to remove asbestos.
The joint venture won the contract with the Human Settlements Department of the Free State in December 2014.
Last year, Zondo heard testimonies that Mpambani agreed to “onerous requests” for the payment of monies for different purposes that were made by the office of the former Prime Minister of the Free State, Ace Magashule. Mpambani allegedly got the money from the asbestos project, Zondo heard.
On Monday, Zondo heard testimony that Sodi and Mokhesi signed a trust to purchase residential property while the businessman was a contractor in the department that Mokhesi ran.
Zulu has testified before Zondo and denied receiving money from the asbestos project.
The former MEC of economic development in the Free State of Mxolisi Dukwana had submitted to Zondo a spreadsheet that revealed that Zulu was allegedly a beneficiary of R10 million from the asbestos project.
This story will be updated once the Hawks have provided more information.
(Additional reports, News24Wire)
For more news your way, download The Citizen app ios Y Android.
[ad_2]
