Michael Lomas, a fugitive who was wanted for alleged fraud and corruption at Eskom made his first appearance in court soon after he landed at the OR Tambo International Airport today. Lomas appeared briefly at the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court where his corruption case was postponed to the 27 September 2024 at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for formal bail application.

CHARGES

Lomas is facing 65 counts of corruption linked to the R1,5 billion that was meant for the upgrade of Eskom's Kusile power station in Mpumalanga between 2014 and 2017. Lomas is accused of manipulating contracts and was previously arrested, when he got bail and fled the country. His court appearance follows a successful extradition launched by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) from the United Kingdom, wherein he was arrested by the authorities on 15 April 2021 and released on bail on 20 May 2021. "The state's application for his extradition was opposed, however on 30 January 2023 an extradition order was signed by the Minister of State Security in the UK. Subsequently, he lodged an appeal against the extradition order, and he was unsuccessful. Furthermore, he launched four more appeals which were all dismissed. In an attempt to evade extradition to South Africa, he lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights and it was also unsuccessful," said Hawks spokesperson Henry Mamothame.

Lomas flew in from London and was escorted by SAPS Interpol to court. He landed at the airport and seemed to be in a fragile state whilst being pushed in a wheelchair. His state of health was one of the conditions that was mentioned in his extradition process that he must be accompanied by a medical practitioner.

FRAUDSTERS?

Lomas was indicted along with four other suspects, two ex-Eskom executives and two businessmen who were arrested in South Africa in December 2019. They have been charged with fraud, money laundering and corruption for allegedly taking kickbacks and inflating the cost of work carried out at Eskom's Kusile Power Plant.

The construction of Kusile power plant in 2008 was meant to help alleviate power cuts in Africa's most industrialised economy, an era where South African were burdened with major power cuts.