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News24 | ‘CRIMINAL’ INTELLIGENCE: Top cop spooks, barring one, granted bail

A cohort of senior Crime Intelligence officers, including spy boss Dumisani Khumalo, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Kyle Cowan/News24 Investigations

The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to six senior Crime Intelligence (CI) officers who were arrested on Thursday.

The seventh, Crime Intelligence CFO Philani Lushaba, was remanded in custody.

National CI head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo and others were arrested by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption.

Those arrested:

- Major General Philani Lushaba, CI’s chief financial officer (his second arrest in two weeks).

- Major General Josias Lekalakala, the Gauteng head of CI.

- Major General Nozipho Madondo, the head of the analysis centre.

- Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, whose appointment as a technical support system manager is at the core of the charges.

- Brigadier Phindile Ncube who is in charge of the vetting office.

- Major General Sydney Gabela who works for the police’s technology services.

Acting Chief Magistrate VLM Mahlangu remitted Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube, Mokwele on bail of R10 000.

Because of Lushaba’s arrest last week in another criminal matter, his application was dismissed.

He was remanded in custody and must bring a formal bail application anew.

All seven indicated their intention to plead not guilty on charges of fraud and corruption, with four counts of each alleged offence detailed in the charge sheet.

IDAC prosecutors did not oppose bail.

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However, they told the court they intended to show that Khumalo, Lushaba, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, and Ncube acted in common purpose to appoint Mokwele contrary to anti-corruption laws.

Mokwele is being charged with corruption for accepting the gift of the job as brigadier, which prosecutors appear set to argue was an undue gratification.

The fraud charges stem from misrepresentations and false information supplied during Mokwele’s appointment process and during statements the accused made to the public, the National Treasury and internally within the police.