The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will take more time to conduct their investigation on the case and will present the indictment to the court at a later date.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Luvuyo Mfaku, said on Wednesday, 28 November 2018 that the organisation had no intention to drop the case against those accused in the scam involving Estina Dairy Farm.
“We can reinstate the prosecution once our investigation has been finalised, and all outstanding information [is] obtained,” Mfaku told Business Day.
The NPA temporarily withdrew the case when they realised they could not meet the Friday, 30 November 2018 deadline for presenting the indictment to court.
“Work behind the scenes will continue, and once we are confident with our evidence, the NPA will then consider rescinding the decision to provisionally withdraw the charges,” Mfaku said.
Eight people have been arrested for crimes linked to the theft of about R250 million linked to the Estina project in Vrede, Free State. The accused persons are, Varun Gupta (nephew to the controversial Gupta brothers), Oakbay’s chief executive Ronica Ragavan, former Sahara executive Ashu Chawla, former TNA media executive Nazeem Howa, Estina director Kamal Vasram as well as Peter Thabethe, Sylvia Dlamini and Takisi Masiteng.
They face charges many charges including fraud, theft and conspiracy to commit fraud. All parties were granted bail in February 2018.
Xiletelo Mabasa
x.mabasa@politicalanalysis.co.za
