SANDF brigadier at centre of R1.5m bribery scandal released on bail

A senior South African National Defence Force (SANDF) official accused of trying to bribe an investigating officer with R1.5m so he could stop an investigation against him has been released on R10,000 bail. The arrest of Brig-GenJohannes Mkhabela, the SANDF’s special acquisition officer, came after he was allegedly caught red-handed with R50,000 trying to bribe the investigating officer. He appeared on Monday at the Pretoria magistrate’s court, where he was charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

Sowetan understands that the case he is trying to squash is related to intimidation. Handing down the bail judgement, magistrate Christopher Chokoe acknowledged that allegations made against Mkhabela are of a serious nature and that he has a case to answer to. “In particular in the manner in which the state says it was applied during your arrest.” “The court orders the following: that your application to be released on bail is successful and that the quantum amount is set at R10,000,” he said.

[Breaking News] Brig-Gen Johannes Mkhabeka, a senior SANDF official accused of offering an investigating officer R1.5m bribe to squash a case has been granted R10 000 bail.@Sowetan1981pic.twitter.com/LTnn1IbrW8 Chokoe also ordered Mkhabela to not make direct or indirect contact with witnesses and that he must submit his passport. He also warned that should Mkhabela fail to adhere to the orders, he will be re-arrested. Last week Thursday, Mkhabela’s lawyer, Mannik Mulaudzi, and his PA, Thembi Hlungwane, were alsoarrested for the same charge.

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They appeared in court on Friday, where they were released on R5,000 bail each. According to the charge sheet, on February 7 the investigating officer was contacted by Hlungwane, who allegedly conveyed that Mkhabela was willing to pay R1.5m “in order to make the case not see its day in court, alternatively to withdraw or destroy the case against Mkhabela”.

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