Mohlala off the hook

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 21 Feb 2007

The state will not prosecute former Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) CFO Bridget Mohlala on charges of theft.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed Mohlala will not be charged due to insufficient evidence.

This follows an investigation into the 2005 theft of R110 000 from ICASA's safe, at its Sandton office.

A warrant for Mohlala's arrest was issued last year, following a SAPS investigation. The case was subsequently passed to a senior prosecutor at the Randburg Magistrate's Court to decide whether there was sufficient evidence to charge her.

ICASA this morning said it is unaware of the state's decision not to charge Mohlala. "We have not received correspondence from the state to indicate its decision on the matter," says ICASA spokesman Sekgoela Sekgoela.

It is unclear whether the regulator will write off the missing R110 000, or if it will continue with the investigation into the theft.

AG investigation

Meanwhile, Mohlala, who left ICASA in December 2005, has been on preventive suspension at her new employer, the Auditor General (AG), since October last year. This is while an internal investigation is being conducted into certain transactions that took place in the Transactional and Operational Unit, headed by Mohlala.

The suspension aims to protect her from any perception she might interfere with the investigation if she is at work during this process, says AG spokesman Afrika Boso.

Boso says it is too early to tell when the internal investigation will be completed. "Once we have gathered and established all the facts in this investigation, we will take the necessary action."