ANC Limpopo bigwigs Danny Msiza and Kabelo Matsepe – accused in the VBS Mutual Bank looting scandal – have been forced to exercise patience in their criminal matter after their bid to obtain further details of their case failed.

A Sunday Tribune report says the two accused had demanded that the NPA provide them with ‘further particulars’ in their case.

They are among 14 accused in the case, facing 186 counts of contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

They approached the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) as they were unhappy with the particulars that the NPA had provided them with and brought an application to compel prosecutors to furnish them with full and better particulars to enable them to prepare for trial and formulate their defence.

The NPA claims Msiza received or retained property, directly or indirectly, on behalf of an enterprise that he should have known was derived through a pattern of racketeering.

Matsepe introduced municipalities to VBS, and if the municipality invested, he would earn a commission calculated at 2% per annum on the amount of each transaction.

In court, Matsepe requested the state to specify those municipalities that invested and/or reinvested, as well as those that did not.

But the NPA countered that the further and better particulars requested constitute evidence, and refused to divulge them.

Matsepe was informed by the NPA that VBS liquidators Anush Rooplal and Walter Stander would testify in their criminal trial.

‘By providing these further particulars indirectly, the state replies that the evidence so requested may be found in the statements of Rooplal and Stander,’ reads Judge Peter Mabuse’s ruling on the demand for further particulars.

Mabuse thus refused their applications to compel the state to furnish them with full and better particulars.

Full Sunday Tribune report

Judgment