Former Transnet group chief executive, Brian Molefe, and former finance head, Anoj Singh, have appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court on charges of defrauding Transnet.
Molefe appeared with Singh, Niven Pillay and Litha Mangaliso Nyhonyha. The four men are charged alongside Regiments Capital which is accused number 10. The State did not oppose bail.
The magistrate released the four on R50 000 bail and ordered that they hand in their passports. They are due to return to court on October 14.
Molefe said he suffered from diabetes, hypertension and arthritis which required daily medication.
The case against the five was joined to that of another former chief executive, Siyabonga Gama and others.
Earlier, Gama appeared before the same court with former acting group chief financial officer Garry Pita, former group treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, Regiments Capital shareholder Eric Wood, Trillian asset management director Daniel Roy (Novum asset management) and Albatime Pty Ltd owner Kuben Moodley.
The men are accused of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption and money laundering.
In 2012 Transnet did a Request for Proposal tender to get transaction advisory services to secure funding for R30 billion. The money was to acquire 1 064 locomotives.
In May 2015 Transnet appointed JB Morgan for its advisory services. From July to October 2015 Transnet officials started facilitating the termination of the JB Morgan contract so as to appoint Trillian.
An invoice of R93.4m was then submitted by Trillian through Daniel Roy. The invoice was approved by Pita and Gama, and payment was made on 3 December to Trillian.
Three days after payment was received, R74m was paid to Albatime, owned by Moodley, for no apparent reason.
Before payment of the R74m, a payment was made by Transnet to Regiments for R189m in June 2015, allegedly for the same services.
[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/governmentza/26877395316]