Former SAPS CFO Solomon Lazarus sentenced to 10 years for corruption

Former SAPS CFO Solomon Lazarus sentenced to 10 years for corruption

Former SAPS Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Crime Intelligence, Major General Solomon Lazarus, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Pretoria Regional Court on Wednesday 9 December 2020.  

Lazarus, who was responsible for the Secret Service Account (SSA), was convicted of corruption valued at over R200 000.   

SAPS CFO ‘DERIVED BENEFIT’ 

According to Investigating Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Twala, the SAPS CFO was involved in acquiring motor vehicles for crime intelligence from Atlantis Motors PTY LTD, a service provider for the front company of crime intelligence, Universal Technical Enterprises CC (UTE). 

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“Lazarus then derived benefit from 2006 to 2011 December, money which belonged to the state for the purchase of the vehicles,” said Twala. 

The conviction was based on the following gratifications:  

  • The purchase of his daughters R55 000 Kia Picanto;
  • The Purchase of a Honda CBR for his son for R27 432,29;
  • The payment of a shortfall of R116 313. 58; for the purchasing of a Nissan Murano 3.5I v6 4X4 CVT vehicle for himself; and 
  • Purchase of a Honda ATV April 2009 to the value of R39 193,78 for himself, all of the benefits valued at a total of R237 939,65. 

Magistrate Adriaan Bekker said corruption of SAPS members could not be tolerated. ID Head Advocate Hermione Cronje also welcomed the sentence. 

“Today on International Anti-Corruption day we are pleased to have our very first conviction and sentencing since the inception of the ID,” said Cronje. 

HIGH-RANKING SAPS OFFICIAL ARRESTED

In October a high-ranking SAPS official was arrested during an early morning raid. She was then expected to appear before the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on charges of corruption, fraud, theft, and money laundering in connection with a fraudulent police equipment tender.

As previously reported by The South African, the contract price was R191 million, however, R65 million was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law enforcement. R22 million was stopped at the advanced stage of the Investigating Directorates probe into the matter.

She was also the ninth police officer and the 13th suspect in total, to be arrested.

MORE THAN 250 POLICE OFFICERS PROBED FOR CORRUPTION 

In early November, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) heard that 257 SAPS members were arrested in relation to corruption allegations.

Among those who were arrested, one was a major-general, two were brigadiers, three were lieutenant-colonels, five were captains, 33 warrant officers and the remainder included constables, sergeants and others, including reservists.

“The national commissioner has acknowledged that police corruption has become increasingly topical following the increasing reports of employees’ involvement in criminal activities. A perception of police corruption negatively undermines the entire policing fraternity,” the presentation outlined.

It went on to say that 77 police officers had been dismissed and 113 received lesser sanctions, meaning they were still employed with the SAPS.