File
The Hawks have raided the properties of several former employees in the Office of the Chief Justice who are accused of illegally benefitting from a R225 million IT contract.
Spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, said the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team swooped simultaneously on Tuesday morning on the homes of "three implicated individuals" in Pretoria and Kempton Park.
He said the three are alleged to have "set themselves up to benefit" from the multi-million rand contract awarded to a multimedia and technology company.
Ramovha said the contract related to the national rollout of the digital electronic case management and litigation system initiated at the High courts in Johannesburg and Pretoria to allow for virtual hearings.
"The trio, which includes a former chief financial officer, former spokesperson, and former case management director who are said to have been instrumental in setting up the six-year contract which started during the Covid-19 pandemic."
Ramovha said after the contract was awarded, the three resigned and became directors of ZA Square Consulting which sub-contracted to the main service provider.
"They reportedly stood to gain about R67 million through this deal. The Office of the Chief Justice reported the matter to the Hawks hence the search and seizure operation in order to obtain documentary and electronic evidence,' he said.
No arrests have yet been made and according to Ramovha, "the preferred charges would be that of fraud, corruption in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) and the contravention of the Cybercrime Act."
