Big+names+targeted+by+Scorpions,+Mapiloko+and+Sefara,+C+Press

City Press, Johannesburg, 03/03/2007 19:35 - (SA)
=Big names targeted in Scorpions raid=


 * JACKIE MAPILOKO and MAKHUDU SEFARA**

THE luminaries who were targeted by the Scorpions in their probe of the Kebble fraud and murder case this week include a Rivonia trialist, a media mogul, a former presidential adviser, a former judge, multi-millionaire business- people and a former spy.

The details are contained in affidavits submitted to the Johannesburg High Court by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in its ongoing investigation into the murder of corporate mega-fraudster Brett Kebble and how an estimated R3 billion went missing from a number of companies he led or had interests in.

The search and seizure operations, conducted at some of the 30 premises involving 121 companies and 86 targeted individuals, flow from an initial preparatory investigation authorised by National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli – whose wife is a shareholder at one of Kebble’s companies.

A team of 29 investigators, prosecutors and financial analysts, led by Gauteng Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel, searched premises and looked for documents with references to the names of well-known people.

These include Rivonia trialist Andrew Mlangeni, who spent 26 years on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela; Marcel Golding, the chief executive of Midi-TV (owners of e.tv); former economic adviser to President Thabo Mbeki, Wiseman Nkuhlu, and former National Intelligence Agency head of operations Gibson Njenje. Former judge Willem Heath’s business premises were also raided.

Mlangeni had allegedly received a multimillion-rand mansion and a luxury Mercedes from Kebble.

The Scorpions were searching for correspondence and letters, trade account statements, minutes of meetings, documents appearing to be file notes, emails, diaries, memorandums and financial statements between the individuals and the companies. Some of the prominent people’s private homes may not be searched as investigators hope to find documents allegedly originated by them or sent to them at premises where they used to work.

Other names published in our sister newspaper Beeld on Friday included financial director of Tsogo Sun Holdings Thabo Mosololi, prominent ANC Youth League members Lunga Ncwana, Songezo Mjongile and Andile Nkuhlu, former journalist Khangale Makhado, Constitutional Court judge Dikgang Moseneke’s son Tiego, and former Transnet chief executive Mafika Mkwanazi.

An internal investigation into the financial affairs of JCI Limited and Randgold and Exploration (R&E) conducted by KPMG and Umbono Financial Advisory Services led to a Scorpions investigation after irregularities were reported in the companies’ affairs.

The report revealed that R1.5 billion had gone missing under the directorship of Kebble, his father Roger, R&E financial director Hennie Buitendag and John Stratton.

The four, believed to be at heart of the saga, raised suspicion when they resigned as directors for JCI and R&E in August 2005, a month before Kebble’s “assisted suicide”.

It is common knowledge that the ANC, and many of its senior members, are beneficiaries of Kebble’s many donations.

Clinton Nassif, who was in charge of Kebble’s security and the man who allegedly assembled the killing squad that finished off Kebble, had his home and business premises searched.

The NPA came under heavy criticism for allegedly granting section 204 immunity to Faizel Smith, Nigel McGurk and Mikey Schultz. In its defence, the NPA said it was more interested in the people who planned, financed and instructed the killing than just people or a person who pulled the trigger.

Glenn Agliotti, a man Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi admitted a friendship with, and Stratton, now living in Australia, were identified as key. But it now appears investigators will add Nassif to the list.


 * From: http://www.news24.com/City_Press/News/0,7515,186-187_2078126,00.html**

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