Trial date set for EC trio implicated in alleged police bribery

Trial date set for EC trio implicated in alleged police bribery

A trial date has been set for a senior Eastern Cape government official and two businessmen charged with attempting to bribe police officers.

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Former Director at the Department of Community Safety in East London Neil Naidoo is accused of attempting to facilitate the “disappearance” of an investigation into shoddy furniture delivered to several police stations in four provinces by a business owned by Kenny Govender and Matthew Pillay KJP Traders.

 

The trio, who were arrested in May 2022 after offering to pay R3.5 million in bribes, were expected to return to the East London Regional Court on 16 September 2024 for trial.

 

It’s alleged Naidoo arranged for Pillay to meet with the brigadier and chief investigator tasked to investigate the complaint of poor quality furniture, which was reported by the commander of the anti-corruption unit in the Eastern Cape, where suggested that he needed assistance on the matter.

 

“The chief investigator immediately stopped the meeting and advised Pillay stopped the meeting and advised Pillay to seek legal advice on the investigations and criminal allegations against his company,” said National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigative Directorate spokesperson Henry Mamothame.

 

It’s further alleged that Naidoo then went to the home of the brigadier, unannounced, and informed him that Pillay wanted the case to disappear. He offered to negotiate a bribe of R5 million for both officers from Pillay.

 

After the officers applied for an undercover operation to nab Naidoo and his accomplices, a follow-up meeting was arranged with Naidoo wherein he negotiated the deal down from R5 million to R3.5 million.

 

“A few days later Naidoo was allegedly given R1.8 million to deliver to the officers but he only presented R1.5 million, keeping R300,000 for himself. The three were subsequently arrested in May 2022,’ Mamothame explained.

 

Naidoo and Pillay are out on R5,000 bail while Govender is out on R50,000 bail.


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