[ad_1]
Former chief of criminal intelligence Richard Mdluli.
Felix Dlangamandla, Gallo Images, Netwerk24
- Former Crime Intelligence chief Richard Mdluli appeared in court after failing to appear on four previous occasions.
- Mdluli, who is currently serving a prison sentence for kidnapping and assault, appeared in court on Friday following an arrest warrant.
- He and his two co-defendants, Heine Barnard and Solomon Lazarus, are expected to go to trial later this year on charges related to looting the secret police fund.
Former Crime Intelligence chief Richard Mdluli finally appeared before the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on the illicit funds issue, after failing to appear on four previous occasions.
Mdluli, who is currently incarcerated for the 1999 Oupa Ramogibe kidnapping and assault, appeared in court on Friday morning following an arrest warrant issued by Judge Bert Bam.
According to the Investigation Directorate of the National Prosecutor’s Office, Mdluli had failed to appear in court on several occasions, causing the pre-trial conference to be postponed until April 6.
Mdluli, Heine Barnard and Solomon Lazarus are accused of looting the secret Crime Intelligence fund.
READ | Arrest Warrant for Richard Mdluli for Failure to Appear in Court
They have been charged with multiple counts of fraud, corruption and theft.
During the court appearance on Friday, ID argued a request to prohibit Mdluli from creating additional delays so that he can join his co-defendants in court later this year, said management spokesman Sindisiwe Twala.
“Mdluli, through his legal representative, has repeatedly stated that he intends to apply for state funds, because the crimes he faces pertain to when he was still a state employee,” Twala said.
“Arguments in this regard will be heard before Judge Bam on April 6, before the matter is postponed to June 18.”
READ | Richard Mdluli and his family of criminal intelligence agents
News24 previously reported that a scathing indictment detailed how Mdluli allegedly looted the Secret Service Account and ensured that various members of his family were designated as agents.
According to the indictment, after Mdluli was appointed criminal intelligence division commissioner on July 1, 2009, he provided Lazarus with a list of people who would be designated as agents.
The list was made up entirely of individuals with whom Mdluli was related, and the indictment established which vehicles were turned over to the respective agents who had been named in the agent program.
The indictment further alleged that Mdluli made several trips, some of which were allegedly paid for from the Secret Service account, and not for work purposes.
Mdluli also allegedly claimed the personal expenses incurred, such as perfumes and jewelry brought in, from the bribery fund.
READ ALSO | Mdluli, Barnard and Lazarus’ corruption indictment alleges a lifetime of sweet walks, jobs and travel
On a trip to China in November 2009, the indictment alleges that R50,000 was obtained from the bribery fund to buy a plane ticket to Mdluli.
In addition, a further R50,000 in cash was provided for the purchase of a plane ticket for Mdluli’s wife at the time, Agent SA 78.
“Two business class airline tickets in the name of Defendant 1 [Mdluli] and Agent SA 78 from Johannesburg to Nanjing (China) via Hong Kong, as well as a 1-8 day Gold family policy were purchased for a total price of R86 152 at Menlyn Park Flight Center, “the indictment reads .
This was not a business trip as Mdluli had applied for a license which was approved. Mdluli allegedly told one of his subordinates that the trip was to visit his daughter, Agent SA 80.
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
