PRETORIA (AP) — South Africa's top police officer Fanny Masemola has appeared in court in a murder case. corruption scandal At least 12 other senior police officers have been arrested and charged by prosecutors.
Masemola, who remains in his post as police chief, faces four charges of violating the Public Finance Management Act, a law that regulates the awarding of contracts by the government. Alleged 360-million-rand corruption A ($21 million) contract to provide health and wellness services to police officers.
He appeared for the first time on Tuesday to be formally charged after being summoned to appear in court earlier this month. He has not yet pleaded to the charges, and if convicted he could face up to five years in prison or a fine.
It is alleged that the contract was awarded irregularly and some police officers took bribes from the winning bidders.
Although details of Masemola's allegations were not released in court pending further investigation, the allegations relate to his responsibilities as an accounting officer for the police service.
The police have canceled the contract.
The contract is the subject of a commission of inquiry appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year to investigate widespread allegations of corruption within the police service.
MPs have also called for a separate parliamentary inquiry into the allegations.
Prosecutors said on Tuesday that Masemola's case would be combined with that of 16 other accused, including 12 police officers.
The officers, among them a Major-General and several of them brigadiers – some of the highest ranks in the South African Police – were all released on bail.
He is accused of corruption along with a businessman who allegedly has ties to organized crime and whose company is at the center of a multimillion-dollar police contract.
Businessman, Vusi “Cat” Matlala, is one of several witnesses who have testified on alleged links between senior police officers and crime bosses.
Matlala is being held in a maximum security prison on attempted murder and other charges in an unrelated case.
Speaking to journalists after his appearance, Masemola played down calls to step down, saying it was the President's job to take decisions and he was performing his normal duties.
Ramaphosa's office said it had taken note of the allegations against Masemola and would address the matter “in accordance with the law”.
The case has been postponed till May 13.