image: dppukltd.com
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate has confirmed that Michael Harry Lomas, a United Kingdom citizen and former Eskom Contractor, appeared in the Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after being arrested in London on the 15th of April.
He was granted bail of £100 000 (R1,7m) and he further submitted additional surety for £250 000 (R4,3m).
The NPA says the appearance means the extradition of Lomas to South Africa has begun in earnest in the United Kingdom.
A spokesperson for the Investigating Directorate Sindisiwe Seboka says Lomas, who was out of the country, has never cooperated with law enforcement to stand trial.
The ID brought an extradition application through the UK central authorities to invoke the European Convention on Extradition 1957, the UN Convention against Corruption 2003 to assist in bringing Lomas back to SA.
The arrest and appearance emanate from months of talks with the UK authorities about the fraud and corruption case where Eskom paid R745 million to Tubular Construction Projects.
This exposed the state-owned entity to R1.4 billion as per the escalation of the contract.
Lomas has been indicted along with four other accused in South Africa, who were arrested in December 2019, and are expected back in court on the first of June.
Lomas will be back in court in the UK on the 20th of May.
As part of his bail conditions, he has a daily curfew of between midnight and 6 am, he will be electronically monitored and may not enter any international travel hub. His Passport and South African ID was also handed over to the police.
