/ 4 May 2007

Court clears former Scorpions head

The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has withdrawn charges of fraud and theft against former Scorpions director Ayanda Dlodlo, South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported on Friday.

”I am very excited, but at the same time I am very angry because I knew from the onset that they did not have a case against me. The charges against me were laughable — for R30 000 and for R700,” she told the broadcaster.

Dlodlo handed herself over to police in October last year and was released on bail of R50 000.

The arrest followed a massive investigation by the police’s serious economic offences unit into allegations of fraud and corruption within the National Prosecuting Authority.

”Although it was reported in the media that it was for corruption as well of over R1,8-million, the charges as they appear on my charge sheet relate to R700 that I allegedly stole and R30 000,” said Dlodlo.

”The amount of money that has been spent on this case is really absurd taking into account the kinds of issues that have been raised. For them to come back now and say that they are withdrawing those charges, it’s something that I had expected from the outset.” — Sapa