Cape Town – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has opposed the bail application of Moroadi Cholota, former Free State premier Ace Magashule’s personal assistant, citing strong evidence that she is an accomplice in a R255 million corruption case.
Cholota, accused No 17, faces charges related to a fraudulent tender awarded to businessman Edwin Sodi.
The NPA argued on Tuesday that Cholota is a flight risk and has misrepresented her intentions to the court.
Moroadi Cholota’s bail hearing has been postponed to Thursday 15 August 2024
Moroadi Cholota, implicated in the R255m Free State Asbestos tender corruption scandal, will have to wait until Thursday for her bail hearing. The state opposed her bail application today, citing… pic.twitter.com/KnVEsqb3bF
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) August 13, 2024
NPA lead prosecutor Johan de Nysschen presented an affidavit from investigating officer Benjamin Calitz in court, which detailed how the government lost R86 million due to the fraud charges against Cholota, Times Live reported.
“It would not be in the interest of justice to release the accused. The state opposes bail and contends Cholota is a flight risk and likely to evade trial. She has further misled the court and misrepresented her likelihood of being a flight risk. She has no intention of standing trial,” Calitz’s affidavit read, according to the report.
The NPA also questioned the funding of Cholota’s legal fees and her residency status in the US.
The State wants to know who is funding Moroadi Cholota’s legal representation, living and study expenses in the US. She says she can only afford R2500 bail. It would seem not everyone is gullible like Jacob Zuma supporters pic.twitter.com/SlDCG4tzqI
— Vho- Kunta Kinte 🇿🇦 🇧🇼 (@AlbaMokopane) August 13, 2024
During the court session on Monday, Cholota, who has been detained for four months, maintained her innocence, arguing that her prolonged detention was unjust and claiming that the charges stemmed from perceived non-cooperation with investigators.
An affidavit read by #MoroadiCholota‘s defence stipulates that it’s in the best interest of justice for her to be released on bail.
She says she is innocent of all charges against her. #KayaNews #Asbestoscase TT https://t.co/tNsiDXyW12
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) August 12, 2024
Her bail application will be considered further after her lawyer submits a response.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
