Former Icasa CFO may face charges

The Randburg Prosecuting Authority is reviewing the case of former Icasa CFO Bridget Mohlala, accused of stealing R110 000 from a safe at the regulator\'s offices in 2005. The authority will decide whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Mohlala, said investigating officer Inspector Sipho Nkosi. Mohlala, who previously worked as head of finance for the Scorpions before joining Icasa, which regulates the telecoms and broadcasting sectors, as CFO, resigned in November 2005 amid allegations that she was the chief suspect in the theft, says an ITWeb report. Full ITWeb report

It has also emerged this week that Mohlala has been working in the office of the Auditor-General – as the business executive for operations and transaction management – since December 2005. However, the AG has in turn suspended her while it investigates certain transactions within its transactional and operational management unit that she headed. ITWeb notes that AG spokesperson Africa Boso says the AG put Mohlala under ‘preventative suspension with full pay’, from October 2006, when the investigation began. ‘This is aimed at protecting Ms Mohlala from any perception that she might interfere with the internal investigation if she is at work during this process,’ he says. Boso is also quoted in an earlier ITWeb report as saying it would be premature to respond to comments about the prudency of employing Mohlala in a financial capacity while the Icasa theft case has yet to be resolved. ‘This matter has not been brought to and tested in any court of law yet,’ he says. He adds the office of the AG ‘believes and supports the well-established legal principle of innocent until proven-guilty’ and Mohlala should be afforded that courtesy. Boso would not comment on whether employing Mohlala at ‘the country\'s supreme audit institution’, while a criminal investigation involving her is in progress, would cast a shadow, real or perceived, over the office of the AG. First ITWeb report Second ITWeb report

Another senior Icasa official appears to have won a reprieve over the matter. CE Jackie Manche also took heat for allegedly failing to report the alleged theft on time. Icasa is, however, to launch a search for a new CEOas Manche resigned in December. But Icasa has decided not to continue with the disciplinary process, and all charges against her have been withdrawn. Tim Mills, a lawyer with Cliffe Dekker Attorneys, who is not involved with this particular issue, notes that from a legal standpoint there is nothing to stop an employee from leaving his/her employment, pending the outcome of disciplinary action. Full ITWeb report

The development raises questions about government\'s bid to beef up accountability of officials as Manche was allowed to resign rather than face a disciplinary inquiry. Manche resigned on December 22 but the news was kept so quiet that not even members of Parliament’s Communications Portfolio Committee were aware that she had quit and that Icasa had curtailed its probe. Manche\'s resignation surprised DA MP Dene Smuts, who serves on the committee. She said Manche\'s suspension on full pay for 10 months had been absurd, and now the truth would never be known, notes Business Day. The resignation also means it will not be disclosed whether Manche was guilty of violating the Public Finance Management Act, the Icasa Act and the internal procedures of Icasa. Full Business Day report

The investigation into the missing R110 000 is proving costly for taxpayers. Manche has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of rands over the past year. Manche’s remuneration for the financial year to March 31 2005 was R76 473 per month, while her salary for the 2005/06 financial year was R77 352 a month (R928 229 for the year). Thus a 10-month suspension with full pay equated to somewhere between R 700 000 and R 800 000. A report on the MyADSL site highlights the irony in the fact her pay while she was under suspension amounted to a lot more than the stolen R110 000 which led to the investigation. Full report on the MY ASDLE site