South African prosecutors have dropped charges against the country’s suspended police chief Fannie Masemola on the grounds that there was not enough evidence linking him to graft allegations over the handling of a police medical scheme.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said in a statement that the National Director of Public Prosecution (NDPP), Andy Mothibi had “formally issued instructions that charges be withdrawn against the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola.”
“The instructions follow after a review of the charges laid against him and [his] subsequent arrest for the violation of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC),” the statement said.
The authority said Mothibi had to intervene after a review of the case discovered that investigators had failed to comply with NPA directives, which “provide, amongst others, that there must be reasonable prospects of success before a matter is enrolled for trial.”
“The NDPP considered evidence gathered by IDAC through investigations; he also considered a report by the Case Assessment Panel together with a report of an independent senior counsel who was appointed to be part of the case assessment process,” the NPA explained.
It noted that following the review process, Mothibi is satisfied that there are no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution against Masemola.
Masemola was placed on precautionary suspension following his appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in April.
JN/APA