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The Citizen
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Extradition request to get Gupta brothers back gains momentum
South Africa's extradition request to the UAE was rebuffed for flimsy procedural reasons. In a matter that has been dragging on for years, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) is hoping that the Gupta brothers will soon be in South Africa to face a raft of charges. IDAC is expected to submit a new extradition application for the Gupta brothers to be hauled back to South Africa from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a 'strategic initiative.' Extradition South Africa's extradition request to the UAE was rebuffed in April 2023 for flimsy procedural reasons, and without sufficient explanation, after Atul and Rajesh Gupta were quietly let off the hook months before. Following an outcry, the South African authorities were simply told to 'resubmit the application'. In November of last year, the extradition request again ended in failure due to issues with jurisdiction. ALSO READ: Gupta arrests: Turning state's witness could put brothers' lives in danger Hiding in UAE IDAC head Andrea Johnson said they will now submit a new extradition application. 'When we resubmit an application now, we've got to resubmit an application with all of the other matters that has since been investigated so that we can do it in on shot'. WATCH: Advocate Andrea Johnson speaking about the Gupta brothers extradition The Investigating Directorate will soon submit a fresh extradition application, for the Gupta brothers to be brought back from the UAE. Emirates authorities rejected the previous application, submitted in November last year. #Guptas #eNCA — eNCA (@eNCA) June 23, 2025 Johnson said Rajesh and Atul are still hiding out in the UAE. 'From what we understand, yes. I do believe that they do perhaps from time to time go to India. Be that as it may, our extradition applications would perhaps have to be more than just the UAE. It would depend at the time of the execution of the application, we would be most certainly looking at where are they and send those applications to the relevant authorities'. Zuptas Rajesh and Atul, friends of former president Jacob Zuma, are accused of using their relationship with the former president to profit financially and influence senior government appointments. They were arrested in the UAE in June 2022 after Interpol placed them on its most wanted list. The Guptas and the Zumas, famously named 'The Zuptas', were fingered in state capture. Witnesses alleged they worked together to siphon money from Transnet, Eskom, and Denel, and made decisions about who was to be appointed to Cabinet. Zuma and the Guptas have persistently denied wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Zuma and entire ANC must be sweating bullets after Gupta brothers' arrest Spilling the beans While many want a speedy extradition of the brothers to South Africa, political analyst Ralph Mathekga believes the Guptas might be in danger when they set foot on South African soil, because of the information they possess about the African National Congress (ANC) and top politicians. Mathekga previously told The Citizen that politics in South Africa would be unravelled if the Guptas are extradited. 'They will be having to speak the truth, and it's a dangerous thing for the ANC. I won't be surprised if someone tries to kill them. This thing is big, it goes deep into the party, so look at what happened to the likes of Gavin Watson.' 'When you are becoming a liability and in a moment such as this, when the ANC is at this crossroad, ANC members will not be enticed. We've seen how they kill each other, I don't think there will be a problem,' Mathekga said. Gupta threat Gareth Newham, head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Program at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said there may be people, possibly even Zuma that were implicated in state capture and would see the Guptas as a threat. 'That would be dependent on whether they would be willing to relay information, and considering that they would want to avoid spending the rest of their lives in prison, I can't imagine they would be very keen to give that information up.' 'What they would be doing with their billions is trying to ensure like our former president that they use every possible legal channel available, the 'Stalingrad Strategy' so to speak, to try and avoid standing trial and then they would try and make sure they are acquitted by not cooperating and providing potentially plausible narrative or evidence as to why they are not guilty of any crime,' said Newham. Newham said, given the value of the Gupta brothers to the South African government, the fugitives from justice would be under intense protection against any attacks. ALSO READ: SCA overturns Nulane accused's acquittal and orders retrial
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Investigating Directorate to submit fresh extradition application for Guptas
Cape TOWN - The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) says it will submit a fresh extradition application to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Gupta brothers for additional State capture matters. This is despite the lack of success to date, in trying to get the brothers to face trial in South Africa in the Estina dairy farm and Nulane cases. On Wednesday, IDAC head Andrea Johnson told Parliament in the interest of justice and given the public interest in these matters, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) won't give up, even though diplomatic efforts to understand the shortcomings have been ignored. The failure of the State to successfully extradite Gupta brothers Atul and Rajesh has been a blight on the NPA's progress in prosecuting State capture matters. But Johnson told Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) that despite not knowing where it's gone wrong in previous attempts, it will once again be submitting an extradition application. 'We have now, however, taken a decision to submit new applications with additional matters.' She says 12 diplomatic notes (notes verbales) to the UAE government to understand why previous applications have failed, have been met with silence. 'How do you resubmit, when you've submitted a full set of papers, properly checked by themselves? So, it does put you in somewhat of a predicament. Do you now send these papers to be a so-called failed attempt again?' NPA head Shamila Batohi says by and large the authority is successful in extradition applications in other countries, but the UAE has proven particularly difficult.
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- The Citizen
Crime Intelligence CFO and others granted bail in burglary cover-up
Investigating Directorates Against Corruption officers arrested the officials after an extensive investigation A former Acting Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence and chief financial officer (CFO) and three police officers have been granted bail. Major General Nicholas Lushaba, together with three of his co-accused, Warrant Officer Jonny Mogashwa, Captain Glen Hudson and Colonel Eugene Pitout (retired), appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Friday. Charges Investigating Directorates Against Corruption (IDAC) officers arrested the crime intelligence officials after an extensive investigation into allegations of state capture and corruption within law enforcement. IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the officials are facing charges of corruption, perjury and defeating the administration of justice. 'Their matter was postponed to 13 August 2025 for disclosure and the provision of an indictment. All accused were granted R3 000 bail each with stringent conditions attached'. The state did not oppose bail. ALSO READ: Sars official testifies against company linked to blue lights corruption case Interference Their court appearance stems from an incident that occurred from August 5, 2022, to April 30, 2024, when Major General Lushaba reported a case of theft. It is understood that the items were stolen from his Pretoria home, allegedly by a sex worker. But Lushaba alleged at the time that it was a burglary. False statements It is alleged that Lushaba interfered with the investigation and falsely made statements about the incident with the assistance of his co-accused to avoid accountability for his conduct as a senior member of the South African Police Service (Saps). Mamothame said Lushaba's actions with the assistance of Mogashwa, Hudson and Pitout and their subsequent actions led to the closing of the docket in which he was a complainant. 'This resulted in them being charged by IDAC on allegations of corruption, perjury and defeating the administration of justice'. Mogashwa and Hudson were handcuffed on Thursday, while Lushaba and Pitout handed themselves over to IDAC investigating officers on Friday. ALSO READ: Former MP among seven arrested for alleged corruption 'Missing' Earlier this week, police said they were unaware of the alleged disappearance of Lushaba, despite reports that he had failed to report for duty and could not be reached. According to the DA's Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Lushaba went missing on June 6, the very day the IDAC was expected to question him about his alleged involvement in irregular property acquisitions worth more than R45 million. The purchases, currently under scrutiny, include a luxury boutique hotel in Nina Park, reportedly bought for R22.7 million, and a commercial property in Berea, Durban, acquired for R22.8 million – both funded by Crime Intelligence, allegedly without the required approvals. ALSO READ: Corruption crisis deepens within Gauteng police force
News24
13-06-2025
- News24
Top Crime Intelligence cop arrested for sex worker burglary scandal
Major General Philani Lushaba – chief financial officer of the police's Crime Intelligence division – handed himself over to police in Pretoria on Friday morning. Lushaba is one of four officers who were either arrested or surrendered themselves in the last two days. It is understood the arrests relate to a burglary he reported in 2022 in which his official laptop, cellphone and state firearm were stolen. The case is being driven by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). While Lushaba claimed he was burgled while away from home, News24 cited sources in Crime Intelligence who alleged he had a dalliance with a sex worker who had robbed him. This detail, and others from this narrative, were allegedly omitted from his original report of the crime. The other senior Crime Intelligence officers allegedly helped him cover up the scandal and ensuing criminal cases that were lodged. The three officers are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday. Lushaba is also at the centre of a procurement scandal set on a R81-million splurge on a range of properties, including a boutique hotel in Pretoria worth R22.7 million, with the real estate binge investigated by the Inspector General of Intelligence. Plans to purchase another Durban property of R13 million appear to have fallen through. The buying spree was financed from the Secret Service Account, a slush fund normally used to bankroll covert operations and pay informers. It is unclear if the arrest will also cover these procurement issues. This is a developing story.
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Supreme Court backs NPA in Nulane case, paving way for corruption trial
Former Transnet Board member and Gupta family associate Iqbal Sharma. Image: National Prosecuting Authority / Supplied The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed a significant ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), which reinstates the potential for a corruption trial in the controversial Nulane case. This landmark decision follows the discharge of several accused persons by Acting Judge Gusha, who had ruled on 21 April 2023, that there was no case to answer under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act. However, the SCA has now ordered that the accused may be retried by a different judge, effectively overturning the earlier ruling. The accused in this case encompass a range of individuals and companies, including Iqbal Sharma and his business Nulane Investment, former head of the Free State Department of Agriculture (FSDoA), Peter Thabethe, and other notable figures such as Limakatso Moorosi, the former FSDoA Chief Financial Officer Seipati Dhlamini, Ronica Ragavan of Islandsite Investment, a company connected to the Gupta family, and Dinesh Patel, Sharma's brother-in-law. Following a meticulous review of Judge Gusha's decision, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) expressed confidence that the judge misapplied the legal standards relevant to the case, leading to an undue dismissal of the prosecution. In the words of IDAC, the SCA's ruling vindicates their stance that the Acting Judge's criticisms of the prosecution team were unwarranted. With the SCA's judgment, IDAC is poised to reinstate the case within a reasonable timeframe, reaffirming the NPA's commitment to prosecuting individuals accountable for the extensive corruption associated with state capture. This case is emblematic of the broader efforts by IDAC to combat severe corruption during a tumultuous period in South Africa's governance, where state resources were allegedly manipulated for personal gain. Beyond the Nulane case, progress at IDAC has been noteworthy. The agency has actively enrolled 50 cases, announced 133 ongoing investigations, and collaborated with the Asset Forfeiture Unit to secure freezing orders totalling R14.3 billion. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Of this, R8.2 billion has already been directed to the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA), signalling a robust strategy to recover lost state assets. As it continues to expand its operations since becoming a permanent unit in August 2024, IDAC is capitalising on revamped investigative powers. Innovations include partnerships that enhance the unit's technical capacity to extract and process data from encrypted digital devices, crucial for substantiating cases and securing convictions against sophisticated criminal enterprises. While complex corruption cases often require time to resolve, the NPA is steadily advancing in its relentless pursuit of accountability. The agency's firm commitment to executing its mandate "without fear, favour, or prejudice" reflects a renewed determination to restore public trust in South Africa's justice system amidst a legacy of corruption. IOL
