SA gets UAE co-operation in state capture probe

The NPA’s investigative directorate has received co-operation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its pursuit of those who allegedly benefited from the Estina corruption case in SA. They include the Guptas, who are understood to live in Dubai. The UAE has not yet ratified an extradition treaty agreed to with SA that would allow for the extradition of the Guptas to face corruption charges in SA. According to a Business Day report, the head of the NPA’s investigative directorate, Hermione Cronje, told Parliament’s Justice & Correctional Service Committee on Friday that the co-operation so far received from the UAE has had ‘an impact on the scope of the charges and the scope of the accused persons that we are intending to bring to court, but we are still awaiting further assistance from the UAE. Assistance has been promised and we have had a first instalment and we are awaiting further instalments. But we are also at an advanced stage of procuring alternative evidence,’ she said. ‘Now that we have had a measure of evidence made available to us, we are determined – again with the co-operation and assistance of the executive – to get the evidence that we need so that we have the full scope of those who were responsible in that matter before court,’ said Cronje.

Cronje told MPs that four accused have appeared in court regarding corruption by Bosasa (renamed Africa Global Operations, now in liquidation), but the bid to bring a fifth suspect from abroad was curtailed by the travel restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 lockdown. According to the Business Day report, she said a number of prosecutions in the second phase of the Bosasa investigation that relate to the allegations made at the Zondo Commission are ready to be instituted. Two were meant to be instituted during the lockdown period. ‘As we move to more eased Covid-19 restrictions, we will be able to put on the roll matters that have been prepared.’

Full Business Day report