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Lawyer Matric Luphondo.
Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe
- The acting deputy director of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Matric Luphondo, has been accused of bribing a prosecutor to file a criminal case.
- The case he allegedly intended to withdraw was against the head of the Mpumalanga human settlements department, Kebone Masange.
- Masange is accused of being in the country illegally and of using fraudulent documents to secure the government post.
The acting deputy director of the Public Ministry, Matric Luphondo, has been accused of bribing a prosecutor to make a criminal case of the head of the Mpumalanga human settlements department, Kebone Masange, disappear.
Luphondo, Masange and Lt. Col. Ayanda Plaatjie appeared in Pretoria Magistrates Court on Wednesday. They face five counts of corruption related to an alleged attempt to have the criminal charges against Masange dropped.
READ | Matric Luphondo arrested
Zimbabwe-born Masange was arrested in September 2020 on charges of fraud, possession of fraudulent documents, and violation of immigration law. Masange is alleged to be in the country illegally and used fraudulent documents to be appointed head of the department.
According to the charge sheet, Plaatjie approached the prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in Pretoria, who was assigned to the Masange case, on March 12 and asked if there was any way to “get out.” [of] this case”.
On March 18, Luphondo allegedly called the prosecutor and requested a meeting, which was eventually held at the McDonalds in Arcadia. There, Luphondo told the prosecutor that Masange was willing to do anything to get out of the case and that they should help him.
Less than a week later, on March 23, Luphondo met with the prosecutor and handed him an 18-year-old bottle of Glenfiddich whiskey, valued at R1 550 and R5,000 in cash. The charge sheet alleges that Luphondo told the prosecutor there was more money.
Four days later, Plaatjie reportedly contacted the prosecutor and asked to meet. He reportedly gave the prosecutor 28,000 rand in cash.
His request for bail is expected to proceed on Thursday after the court rejected the state’s request for a seven-day postponement for further investigations.
