The National Prosecuting Authority has withdrawn charges against three former senior SARS officials, who were accused of their involvement in the so-called "rogue unit".
The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi withdrew charges against Ivan Pillay, Andries Janse van Rensburg and Johan van Loggerenberg on Friday and said it had informed relevant prosecutors and the lawyers for the accused of the decision.
Pillay and Van Rensburg were charged with contravening the Regulation of Interception of Communication and Provision of Communication Related Information Act, after they were accused of bugging the offices of the former Directorate of Special Operations in the NPA.
The NPA said Batohi had concluded that there were no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution in the matter.
"When instituting or maintaining criminal proceedings, a prosecutor should proceed only when a case is well-founded, upon evidence contained in the police case docket reasonably believed to be reliable and admissible, and should not continue such proceedings in the absence of such evidence, that is, if there is no prima facie case," it said.
- African News Agency
