The NPA is hyped to restart the Nulane fraud case after the Supreme Court of Appeal flipped a lower court decision that let eight defendants walk. Judge Nompumelelo Gusha had trashed the prosecution for weak evidence in the R24.9 million Gupta-connected scheme, but the SCA clapped back in June and said her ruling was a miscarriage of justice. The accused lineup features former Free State agriculture department heavyweights Peter Thabethe, Seipati Dhlamini, and Limakatso Moorosi, plus Gupta associate Iqbal Sharma and Ronica Ragavan.
Legal analyst Dikeledi Sinakhomo says the retrial could bring fresh witnesses and documents if both sides agree to beef up the original evidence. The case centers on a sketchy 2011 agriculture feasibility study contract where officials allegedly bypassed tender rules, and R19 million got funneled through shell companies to the UAE.
The SCA hammered the original judge for rejecting key documents and misapplying the common-purpose doctrine, and they ordered a completely new trial with a different judge.
Legal analyst Dikeledi Sinakhomo says the retrial could bring fresh witnesses and documents if both sides agree to beef up the original evidence. The case centers on a sketchy 2011 agriculture feasibility study contract where officials allegedly bypassed tender rules, and R19 million got funneled through shell companies to the UAE.
The SCA hammered the original judge for rejecting key documents and misapplying the common-purpose doctrine, and they ordered a completely new trial with a different judge.
