Latest news with #KisheneChetty
The Citizen
29-07-2025
- The Citizen
Kishene Chetty application to combine criminal matters dismissed
Chetty and his co-accused appeared in the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria. Businessman Kishene Chetty and his co-accused have been dealt a significant blow after their application to consolidate several cases of fraud, forgery, money laundering, and other charges of dishonesty was struck off the roll with costs. Chetty and his co-accused appeared in the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria on Monday. The matter pertains to the procurement of toners for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape provinces between 2015 and 2016, resulting in a loss of more than R800 000 to the police. Charges The NPA's Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said Chetty and his accused wanted the charges consolidated, arguing that the charges in all the cases were similar. 'Counsel for the NPA's Investigating Directorate Against Corruption objected when the legal representatives of Chetty and others attempted to hand in four new lever arch files , which were not provided to the court and the state in preparation for the hearing. 'The state argued that in law, an applicant can file a supplementary only if they obtain leave to do so from a court, following a substantive application,' Mamothame said. ALSO READ: PPE tender fraud and corruption case against Kishene Chetty postponed Criminal matter Mamothame said the judge also questioned if it was correct for a criminal matter to be presided over by a civil court. 'This outcome will provide progress in the cases that Chetty and his co-accused are facing, as they have been postponed pending this ruling'. R56m police vehicle branding fraud case Chetty and his co-accused are facing 456 charges, including racketeering, fraud, corruption, theft, forgery and money laundering. Among the accused are police officials who allegedly participated in the fraudulent tender process, as well as 22 companies and their directors. The former head of police supply chain management, Lieutenant General Ramahlapi Mokwena and three brigadiers are also among the accused in this matter. The matter stems from another R56 million tender fraud case, in which procurement documents were allegedly tampered with in a tender for the branding of police vehicles. Falsified quotations were allegedly provided to the South African Police Service. ALSO READ: R56m police vehicle branding fraud case set for pre-trial
The South African
28-07-2025
- The South African
NPA secures victory against fraud-accused Pretoria businessman
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has secured a victory against Pretoria businessman, Kishene Chetty. Chetty, together with Harry Milanzi and Ravin Ramlall, stand accused of fraud, forgery and money laundering, among other cases. Chetty and his defence team had filed an application before the Pretoria High Court to have all of his alleged corruption matters combined into one case. 'They argue that the charges in all the cases are similar,' said the NPA's Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) unit. However, NPA's IDAC opposed Chetty's application. They further accused his counsel of trying to introduce new evidence before court without prior consultation. 'The legal representatives of Chetty and others attempted to hand in four new lever arch files which were not provided to the court and the state in preparation for the hearing,' said IDAC. According to IDAC, the State argued that in law, an applicant can file a supplementary only if they obtain leave to do so from a court. The supplementary should also be preceded by a substantive application. 'The judge also questioned if it was correct for a criminal matter to be presided on by a civil court,' said IDAC. The court ruled in favour of the NPA, however, and Chetty's application was struck off the roll. He was further ordered to foot the cost of the legal fees. IDAC said among Chetty's co-accused are officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private entities. All of them are facing multiple corruption charges relating to tender fraud within SAPS. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- IOL News
Confusion reigns at the NPA
In a shocking turn of events, the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Investigative Directorate (ID) is embroiled in serious allegations of prosecutorial misconduct concerning businessman, Kishene Chetty and his co-accused. The weighty accusations emerged as discrepancies in the prosecution's approach raised deeper questions about its methods, integrity, and overall efficacy in delivering justice. Chetty's legal troubles commenced on August 4, 2022, a date now marred by inconsistency. Court records reveal that the prosecution had not officially registered the case at the Pretoria High Court until a whole year later, prompting significant questions. Upon review, it appears that the court register (J546) does not show any entry for Chetty's case on that day, despite a summons issued to the alleged individuals citing a court case number (A16/351/2020) that, strikingly, was also absent from the register. The narrative becomes even more convoluted with the mention of a previous docket, Silverton CAS 335/05/2020, which had been struck from the roll, necessitating a complete restart that seemed to have eluded the NPA. Examination of court transcripts from August 4, 2020 revealed yet another layer of confusion, as they referred back to case A16/351/2020. Critics of the NPA have questioned how allegations led to Mr O'Neil Perumal, one of the accused in the Chetty case, who arrested for a separate matter, being charged and granted bail of r R5000 without a clear and registered case. Further entanglements arose on November 15, 2022, when Chetty's case finally made its way into the official court documents. However, instead of clarity, confusion reigned as Chetty's case was registered under the same number previously linked to the struck case. Compounding these anomalies, simultaneous hearings for Chetty and his co-accused were conducted at the Pretoria Magistrate Court, a situation that raised eyebrows as it appeared implausible for two cases to be heard at different courts at exactly the same time. Describing the ordeal, Chetty expressed bewilderment and frustration. 'The system is broken, we don't even know where to run to.' The duplicity of charges brought against him and his co-accused added to their mounting legal woes. 'We wrote letters to the NPA's head with no luck regarding this case. Now we find ourselves appearing in two different courts at the same time. How is that possible?' Of notable concern are alarming claims that the NPA's alleged deficiencies might stem from directives issued by the agency's head, Andrea Johnson. Reports suggest that Johnson encouraged her team to adopt a 'fake it till you make it' mentality during an internal meeting, instructing them to appear professional even when they lacked substantial documentation. 'I asked that everybody go to court, because you are a team, but I also instructed everyone to dress to the nines and carry marked file boxes, even if there's nothing in the files,' she reportedly said amid laughter, casting a long shadow over the credibility of the NPA's mission. The implications of these allegations cut deep, especially as they surface against a backdrop of ongoing criticism regarding the NPA's credibility. Chetty's case now stands as a litmus test for the organisation's integrity, with concern that the 'fake it till you make it' mentality might compromise the pursuit of justice. In the face of mounting pressure, ID spokesperson Henry Mamothame attempted to clarify the situation by asserting that it is technically feasible for the accused to appear in two different courts on the same day if they face multiple charges. However, he shockingly claimed not to know Advocate Nembulunge, who presided over Chetty's case. As the drama unfolds, the NPA finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with potential far-reaching ramifications as the public watches closely. With each revelation, Chetty's case compounds the urgent need for transparency and accountability in a system designed to protect the fundamental rights of citizens against injustice.
