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By IOL Reporter 
September 30, 2020
Durban – A sixth person has been arrested in connection with the controversial R255m Free State Corruption Case.
The Hawks’ national spokesman, Brig. Hangwani Mulaudzi, confirmed the arrest Wednesday night.
He said the Hawks did indeed arrest six suspects during a simultaneous operation in Free State, Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng on allegations of fraud and corruption in connection with the 2014 Free State Asbestos Project.
“Among those arrested are three senior government officials, three businessmen and five companies. The defendants face 60 charges that include corruption, fraud, money laundering in violation of the Law on Prevention and Combating Corrupt Activities, as well as contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, “he said.
Mulaudzi said the arrests stem from a joint investigation by the Free State’s Serious Corruption Investigation Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and the National Fiscal Authority (NPA).
This followed a referral from the SIU under Proclamation R39 of 2019, which led to the subsequent criminal investigation of the Hawks who worked closely with the NPA and its various units.
The accusations refer to a contract that was awarded through a procurement process that was carried out in a fraudulent and corrupt manner, “he said.
He said that in addition, certain public officials received bonuses from the contracted company and / or an individual for various charges of corruption.
“The contract was intended to identify and remove asbestos roofs in the Free State province and it did not conduct due diligence before entering the contract.
It is alleged that the Provincial Department gave the impression that they participated in a contract concluded by the Gauteng Human Settlements Department while the services were not the same as those specified in the existing contract and furthermore the price was higher in contravention of the Treasury regulations, “he said. he said.
Mulaudzi added that during the period the department incurred unauthorized, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenses of more than R255 million.
He said that one of the KZN suspects is still missing in this case, an arrest warrant in his name has already been obtained. The suspects are expected to appear in Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday.
MESS
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