Former spy boss Mdluli returns to court for corruption trial

Former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli is expected back in the Pretoria High Court on Monday, more than 15 years after his arrest over allegations that he and his co-accused abused the police's secret services account to fund private expenses.

Mdluli, together with former South African Police Service (SAPS) supply chain manager Heine Barnard and former Crime Intelligence chief financial officer Solomon Lazarus, faces charges arising from alleged corruption, fraud and theft involving the police's secret slush fund.

The allegations relate to the period between 2008 and 2012, when the accused held senior positions within the Crime Intelligence Division.

The State alleges that money meant for confidential police operations was used to finance private trips, personal purchases and other expenses that had nothing to do with policing.

Among the allegations are that the fund was used to pay for private trips to China and Singapore.

Mdluli is also accused of benefiting from the alleged unlawful use of a witness protection house in Boksburg, which was reportedly converted for his personal use.

Another allegation concerns his private townhouse at Gordon Villas in Gordon's Bay. The State alleges that the property was leased to the police as a safe house, with rental payments subsequently used to service his home loan.

The accused are also alleged to have facilitated payments towards Mdluli's private BMW financing costs and secured benefits from police suppliers.

The investigation further uncovered allegations that family members were appointed within Crime Intelligence despite allegedly lacking the necessary qualifications and experience. They were reportedly placed on the payroll and provided with vehicles and cellphones.

Mdluli was arrested in 2011. However, the charges against him were withdrawn approximately a month later after he successfully applied for their withdrawal.

The decision was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2014, paving the way for the charges to be reinstated.

The matter returned to the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court in April 2015 but was struck off the roll in July that year because of concerns surrounding the disclosure of classified Secret Services documents to the defence.

The documents were eventually declassified in 2019, allowing the matter to be re-enrolled in August 2020. The case has since been plagued by delays, including disputes over the disclosure of documents and Mdluli's application for the police to pay his legal fees.

In 2022, the State brought an application citing unreasonable delays and accusing Mdluli's legal team of delaying the proceedings.

The court indicated that the criminal trial should proceed regardless of the outcome of his legal funding application.

More recently, the defence challenged the validity of search warrants used during the investigation, resulting in further postponements.

Mdluli and his co-accused are expected to return to court on November 9 for trial proceedings.