Tebogo Msimanga |
The NPA’s Investigating Directorate (ID) says it is pleased that Michael Harry Lomas, a United Kingdom citizen and former Eskom Contractor, was arrested on 15 April in London and appeared before the Westminister Magistrates Court on Thursday 22 April 2021.
The Spokesperson for Investigating Directorate Sindisiwe Seboka said Lomas was granted bail of £100000 (R 1.7million) and he further submitted an additional surety of £250000 (about R4.3million).
Seboka added that Lomas’ appearance means Lomas extradition to South Africa has begun in earnest in the United Kingdom.”The arrest and appearance emanate from months of talks with the UK authorities about the fraud and corruption case where Eskom paid R745m Tubular Construction Projects. This exposed the state-owned entity to R1.4b as per the escalation of the contract.”
Lomas has been indicted along with four other accused in South Africa who were arrested in December 2019 and are expected back in court on 01 June 2021.
“Lomas, who was out of the country, has never cooperated with law enforcement to stand trial. The Investigating Directorate brought an extradition application through the UK central authorities to assist in bringing Lomas back into South Africa to account.”
In line with the UK extradition court processes, he needs to appear in the British courts, and only after the matter has been ventilated there, will the court decide whether or not to extradite him into South Africa.
Seboka further said Lomas has been granted bail on conditions that his Passport and South African ID be retained by the police not to apply for international travel documents.
The matter will return to court on 20 May 2021.
