Block took bribes from Trifecta: judge
The ANC Northern Cape chairman was found guilty of accepting gratifications in the form of Trifecta shares and cash.
|||Kimberley - ANC Northern Cape chairman John Block was found guilty of exerting political influence in order to secure multi-million rand government leases with the Trifecta group of companies. He appeared in the Northern Cape High Court today (Wednesday).
He was also was found guilty of accepting gratifications in the form of shares in Trifecta, renovations to his guesthouse in Upington to the value of nearly R350 000, R338 521 for his legal costs and cash payments of R228 000, R500 000 and R298 151 for facilitating the leases.
This is in contrast to the former MEC for Social Development, Alvin Botes, who was acquitted of charges of money laundering and corruption.
Judge Mmathebe Phatsoane also delivered a guilt verdict on charges of corruption and money laundering for the CEO of the Trifecta group of companies, Christo Scholtz.
The Trifecta group of companies was found guilty of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
Phatsoane increased the bail of Scholtz and Block from R50 000 to R100 000 after handing down judgment.
She stated that while Block had a right not to testify, the silence of an accused was “not without consequences”.
She indicated that he had an obligation to explain to the court if the payments that he received from the company was in the form of a loan.
“He should have declared the nature of the services rendered to Trifecta where salary payments were made to him.”
Phatsoane added that the payment made for the renovations to Block’s guesthouse were made in order to “influence and instruct” his personal assistant and Eubrahim Crouch to seal deals with Trifecta for the leasing of office space for the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and the Department of Land Reform and Agriculture.
Crouch was a director at the Department of Roads and Public Works and was in charge of property management.
She believed that Crouch had acted as an intermediary and not an instigator in the commission of a corrupt act.
Phatsoane pointed out that Crouch had raised concerns to Block that proper procurement procedures were not being followed.
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