Eskom's Medupi power station. (Madeleine Cronje/M&G)
A British suspect charged with 65 corruption counts in relation to Eskom's R745 million contract for the Kusile power station appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Michael Lomas arrived in South Africa from the UK and was first arrested on these charges at the request of local authorities more than three years ago.
He faces trial on fraud, corruption and money laundering charges alongside four other defendants, including former Eskom boss Frans Hlakudi, the power utility's former capital group director Abram Masango and businessmen Mafoko Kgomoeswana and Antonio Trindade.
The latter was the CEO of Tubular Construction Projects and Eskom awarded the company the Kusile refurbishment contract in 2014. The contract was then manipulated to almost double in value to R1.4 billion.
Lomas, who also worked for Tubular Construction, had asked British authorities to arrest him because he left the country while the case was under investigation and before the other suspects were arrested, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Agency (IDAC) said in a statement on Friday.
He has repeatedly challenged the extradition order issued by the British Secretary of State early last year.
“He subsequently appealed unsuccessfully against the extradition order,” said Idac spokesman Henry Mamotham.
Lomas appealed four more times, all of which were rejected, and then sought a stay of the extradition proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights, but this was also rejected.
Lomas is due to appear at Palm Ridge Specialist Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday for a formal bail application.
He was flown to South Africa under medical supervision, but Aidak said he could not comment on his medical condition.
The department obtained preservation orders worth R1.4 billion against 11 defendants, six of which are companies.
