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Knorx Molelle Attorney. Image: Rosetta Msimango
NEWS
The asset freeze in the controversial Estina Dairy project, Trillian linked to Gupta and the global consulting firm McKinsey and assets belonging to the Uruguayan citizen Gaston Savoi has taken another turn.
In a last turn of events, the internal investigation of the National Prosecutor’s Office (NPA) has revealed serious irregularities that led to the suspension of the Deputy Director of the Public Ministry, Lawyer Knorx Molelle.
On Tuesday, Molelle received a suspension letter with immediate effect pending a full investigation into his alleged involvement in the award of conservatorship contracts to preserve multi-billion rand assets.
The conservatorship placement meant that the state suffered losses as a result of conservatorship costs that were unnecessary in the situation where the company had offered to return the money wrongly received.
A fountain
The letter, dated November 5, was signed by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola.
The minister wrote: “The NPA leadership has informed me of alleged misconduct by you. These allegations of misconduct are related to irregularities related to the appointment and payment of conservators in the McKinsey, Estina and Intaka cases ”.
Lamola said he takes these allegations seriously given their seriousness and potential impact on the NPA’s reputation.
“I have therefore accepted the recommendation that he be placed on preventive suspension and that an investigation be carried out to prove the veracity of the allegations of misconduct against him.”
The accusations are absurd to say the least!
Source
Molelle is suspended with full payment.
City Press learned that the internal investigation was prompted by a whistleblower complaint suggesting that it was not necessary to place Mckisey’s bank accounts and assets under conservatorship, as the company had offered to return the money.
“The conservatorship placement meant that the state suffered losses as a result of conservatorship costs that were unnecessary in the situation where the company had offered to return the money improperly received,” said a source familiar with the complainant’s initial complaint.
However, another source said McKinsey had been making promises to return the money, but never did when asked.
“The accusations are absurd to say the least! Molelle does not appoint or pay conservators. No one at the NPA has such powers for the case. Guardians are appointed by the courts and are accountable to the Master of Superior Court and not to anyone in the NPA.
“His fees are also approved by the Superior Court Magistrate,” said a source close to La Molelle, the former acting special director who rose to fame when he and his team seized Gupta’s assets.
These allegations of misconduct relate to irregularities related to the appointment and payment of conservators in the McKinsey, Estina and Intaka cases.
Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola
In the Estina affair, the NPA froze R250 million in assets belonging to the controversial Gupta family for their alleged role in the failed dairy project.
The assets included 43 residential, agricultural and commercial properties, two airplanes, a helicopter, automobiles, including a Porsche, Lamborghini, Range Rovers, and bank accounts belonging to Oakbay Investments and Sahara Computers.
In the McKinsey case, the Asset Forfeiture Unit recovered 1.2 billion rand which was reimbursed to Eskom.
The NPA froze $ 100,000 (R15.3 million) in a Swiss bank account belonging to Savoi and R805 569.39 held by another man on his behalf.
Read: ‘Bankers, auditors must also account for their role in the capture of the state’
At least R 4 million was also frozen, which would be received from the sale of Intaka Nutri.
The NPA also attached four properties in Tokai. The move followed accusations of bid fraud, corruption and money laundering against the businessman, 14 other people and four companies.
The allegations are that Intaka supplied oxygen and water purification plants to hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal at inflated prices.
This is a story in development.
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