NPA to appeal former state security boss Bongo’s corruption matter

The National Prosecuting Authority says it will be filing a leave to appeal after former state security minister Bongani Bongo was acquitted of charges of corruption in the Western Cape High Court.

CAPE TOWN, March 17 (ANA) – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has said it will be filing a leave to appeal after former state security minister Bongani Bongo was acquitted of charges of corruption in the Western Cape High Court.

In a statement, provincial NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the charges against Bongo stemmed from his alleged attempt to bribe advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara to allow the collapse of the parliamentary portfolio committee inquiry into affairs at power utility Eskom in October 2017.

Bongo has denied all allegations against him.

According to Ntabazalila, the case against Bongo collapsed on February 26 when the State closed its case and the judge in the matter, John Hlophe, acquitted Bongo on the basis that the witnesses in the matter lacked credibility.

He said the acting director of public prosecutions, advocate Nicolette Bell, decided after “careful consideration of the facts, the law and the legal principles applicable in dealing with applications of this nature to appeal the decision to acquit Bongo”.

Ntabazalila said the NPA has since filed the application for leave to appeal and Bongo’s legal representatives have been served.

He said a suitable date will be arranged for the application to be heard by the judge president.

“The State will request the court to reserve questions of law for the consideration of the Supreme Court of Appeal, as it avers that the trial court misdirected itself on the law related to corruption, the test to be applied when assessing the evidence of witnesses, the drawing of adverse inferences, use of previous consistent statements and the acceptance of the untested version of an accused person,” Ntabazalila added.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher