Cape Town – Former Eskom CEO Matshela Koko and his co-accused, including family members and an attorney, have reportedly requested that the R2 billion corruption case against them be removed from the court roll due to delays.
According to The Citizen, the case revolves around an alleged irregular contract awarded by Eskom to Swiss-based engineering firm Asia Brown Boveri (ABB) for the construction of Eskom’s Kusile Power Plant.
The defence argued that the lengthy delays had frustrated the case and insisted that it should not be postponed further.
The state, on the other hand, stated its readiness to proceed with the trial in the high court once racketeering charges were added but requested a four-month postponement to obtain statements from overseas witnesses.
The defence also raised concerns about the extradition process for accused and witnesses in the UK, Germany, and the US, which could take up to three years, Middleburg Observer reported.
Judgment on the defence’s application to remove the case from the court roll is expected on September 29, 2023.
Koko had been implicated in the State Capture inquiry for alleged involvement in corrupt tenders during his tenure as Eskom CEO and had previously filed a review application against the commission’s findings, claiming bias and seeking to set aside certain comments and findings.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
