World Cup police accommodation fraud and corruption case postponed

The case against nine suspects facing charges relating to the R47 million Soccer World Cup police accommodation fraud and corruption investigation has been postponed in the Durban High Court.

The case was postponed to allow for pre-trial conferencing.

The accused in the case include former high ranking police officials including:

• Former KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner General Mmamonnye Ngobeni
• Colonel Navin Madhoe
• Former police captain Aswin Narainpershad

The other accused are:

• Businessman, Toshan Panday
• Panday’s mother, Arevenda Panday
• His wife, Privisha Panday
• His sister, Kajal Ishwarkumar
• Panday’s brother-in-law, Seveesh Maharaj Ishwarkumar
• Panday’s personal assistant, Tasleem Rahiman

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Investigating Directorate spokesperson Henry Mamothame explained that the nine face at least 275 charges of racketeering offences and fraud, corruption, money laundering and forgery.

“[These were] allegedly committed between March 2009 and April 2010, wherein the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act were allegedly ignored in procuring accommodation for members of the South African Police Service during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

“The state alleges Panday’s family [were] party to a common purpose with Toshan and others to defraud SAPS, through their association with entities which were used to score lucrative contracts from SAPS. The policemen who are accused in this matter face accusations of colluding with Panday to receive contracts from the KZN police for an amount of over R47.3 million in fraudulent and irregular tender procedures.

“Judgment on an application for disclosure of certain information is still reserved for a date that will be provided by the court. The state has strongly argued against this application,” he said.

The case is expected back in court on 25 July 2024. – SAnews.gov.za