Tebogo Msimanga |
The Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court on Friday granted bail to former Group Chief Executive of Transnet Siyabonga Gama, former Acting Group Chief Financial Officer Garry Pita, former Group Treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, Regiments shareholder Eric Wood, Trillian Asset Management current Director Daniel Roy (Novum Asset Management).
Gama, Pita and Roy were granted bail of R50 000 each while Wood has been granted R250 000 bail and Ramosebudi, R25 000. The accused stand accused of contravention of the PFMA, fraud, corruption and money laundering.
Investigating Directorate National Spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said in 2012 Transnet went on a Request for Proposal tender to get transaction advisory services to secure funding for $2.5 billion (equivalent of R30 billion at the time) to fund the acquisition of the 1064 locomotives deal.
“Later in May 2015 Transnet appointed JB Morgan for advisory services. In July – October 2015 the same officials in Transnet started facilitating the termination of the JB Morgan contract. A cancellation resulted in them appointing Trillian in October 2015”.
Seboka added that an invoice of R93.4 million was submitted by Trillian through Daniel Roy, who served as a director to Trillian. The invoice was approved by Pita and Gama, and payment was made on 03 December 2015 to Trillian’s account. “Three days after that, R74 million was paid to Albatime, owned by Kuben Moodley, for no apparent reason.Before that, a payment by Transnet was made to Regiments for R189 million in June 2015 for the alleged same services”.
The matter will return to court on 13 July 2022.
