Details: Why the Gupta compound was raided

In dawn raids in the Free State and Gauteng, the Hawks have arrested at least three people linked to the more than R220-million alleged graft scandal around the Vrede dairy farm – including at least one Gupta family member.

The Hawks are pictured outside the Gupta compound in Saxonwold,14 February 2018. The Hawks raided the residence as part of the unit’s investigation into state capture. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark

The Hawks swooped in on the Gupta compound in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, yesterday morning.

Seen on the front of a docket at the scene were the names of the people they were looking for. A former Free State agriculture official was arrested at the same time in connection with his involvement in the failed project in Vrede.

The three will appear in Bloemfontein Commercial Crimes Court today and will be named once they have pleaded.

The charges stem from a docket opened by DA MP David Maynier in Cape Town against Atul and Ajay Gupta, and Duduzane Zuma, the son of Jacob Zuma, the second SA president to be recalled before completing his term and friend of the Gupta family.

It is understood the Hawks have been investigating charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption against members and associates of the Gupta family. “I’m delighted [a] Gupta and others were finally arrested today by the Hawks,” Maynier told The Citizen yesterday.

“It’s credit to the hard work put in by investigating officers and prosecutors, who try to do their work in a professional manner. I hope [the] Gupta and others, who have been looting the state, will finally be prosecuted, convicted and end up as guests of the state at Pretoria Central.”

Scenes outside the Gupta residence in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. Picture: Tracy-Lee Stark

In Maynier’s statement last year, he noted former finance deputy minister Mcebisi Jonas was a key witness regarding a version of a meeting which took place on October 23, 2015, at Saxonwold.

Jonas alleged, among other things, Gupta family members offered him the position of finance minister, R600 million to be deposited in an account of his choice, as well as R600 000 if he had a bag in which to carry it.

Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi would not confirm the names of the people arrested and would only say that so far, three people have been arrested and two other suspects were expected to hand themselves over.

“Operations are still ongoing and further details will be made available at a later stage,” Mulaudzi said.

It is believed the Hawks also raided Duduzane’s house, two blocks away from the Gupta compound, as well as that of another former business associate.

– amandaw@citizen.co.za

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