Former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli will have to approach Legal Aid after his legal representative withdrew from the corruption case citing a lack of funds.
Mdluli and his two co-accused, former South African Police Service (SAPS) supply chain manager Heine Barnard, and chief financial officer Solomon Lazarus, are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft.
The charges stem from their time of employment by the state, between 2008 and 2012, when they were at the helm of the police crime intelligence services.
All three accused face charges related to the alleged abuse of the police’s secret slush fund.
They are accused of looting the police's slush fund and will have to apply for legal aid after his attorney withdrew, citing a lack of funds.
The allegations include the payment of private trips to China and Singapore, the private use of witness protection houses, and the leasing of Mdluli’s private residence to the state in order to pay his bond.
Among other allegations, it is claimed that during one of Mdluli’s trips to Singapore in 2009, he allegedly used some of the funds for personal expenses, buying electronic equipment, clothing, jewellery, and perfume.
Mdluli applied for legal funding from the police as he said the charges relate to the time that he was in the employment of the SAPS.
However, he lost the application and filed an appeal on the SAPS decision which is yet to be heard.
On Monday, when the trial had to start, Mdluli’s legal representative, Ike Motloung, brought an application for a postponement of the trial to await the outcome of the leave to appeal.
According to the Investigating Directorate against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, the court dismissed the application for postponement which led to Motloung's withdrawal from the case.
Mamothame said when dismissing Mdluli’s postponement application, Judge Mudunwazi Makamu said the matter has been on the court roll for a long time and it prejudiced the other accused who had indicated that they were ready to proceed with trial.
The judge added that Mdluli’s leave to appeal has a lot of uncertainties which may require him to approach the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court should the ruling be not in his favour.
The judge postponed the matter to November 5, 2024 for Mdluli to approach Legal Aid to ascertain if he qualifies for legal assistance.
IOL News