Gauteng deputy director of public prosecutions, (Scorpions) Cornwell Tshavhungwa, had his R100 000 bail on corruption charges cancelled by a Pretoria magistrate on Wednesday.
Specialised Commercial Crimes Court magistrate Desmond Nair found that Tshavhungwa had breached his bail conditions by contacting a witness.
Despite prosecutor Glennis Breytenbach’s objections, Tshavhungwa’s bail is to be paid back to him.
The corruption hearing was postponed to July 23 for further investigation.
Tshavhungwa was arrested on June 7 and freed on bail the next day. The State alleged he breached his bail conditions in the following week, and he was re-arrested in Sandton last Friday.
Tshavhungwa has been suspended from his duties, and faces an internal investigation.
According to the charge sheet, Tshavhungwa is accused of abusing information he obtained during an investigation into the affairs of the Mpumalanga Economic Empowerment Corporation (MEEC).
The information was allegedly passed on to a company owned by Tshavhungwa’s cousin, Ramcorp Business Concepts, which used it to obtain a tender to provide the MEEC with risk management services.
The State says he passed information on a rival tender on to Ramcorp, and received ”extensive remuneration” in return for his services.
Tshavhungwa is also alleged to have pressurised the chief executive officer of the MEEC, one E Khoza, into employing his wife, brother and a friend.
The charge sheet accuses Tshavhungwa of dishonesty, abuse, exceeding the scope of his authority, and of disgraceful and improper conduct. – Sapa