VBS Mutual Bank case postponed to August
The National Prosecuting Authority on Monday expressed its dismay at the latest postponement in the VBS Mutual Bank case.
Thirteen people implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank saga briefly appeared in the High Court in Pretoria on Monday for pre-trial proceedings following the conviction of former chairperson Tshifhiwa Matodzi.
Matodzi was sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 33 counts, including corruption, theft, fraud, money laundering and racketeering in contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act last week.
Speaking to the SABC News, NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said all parties were ready for the start of the pre-trial conference.
However, applications filed by ANC member Kabelo Matsepe and former Limpopo ANC treasurer Danny Msiza halted the proceedings.
“The application relates to a temporary stay of prosecution, citing failure to provide them with information sufficient to defend themselves when such information was provided to them and disclosed timeously,” Mhaga said.
“We believe that it is just a waste of time, and we will vigorously oppose that application.”
Mhaga added that the NPA believes that a separation of trials would prejudice the State’s case.
"The second obligation related to the separation of trials, which we believe to be prejudicial to the state as our witnesses will have to testify twice, in two separate trials, and that is unfair. It is going to be quite exhausting for them, and it is undesirable that they will be subjected to that situation.”
The matter was postponed to August 14.
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