The trial of the suspended head of the National Prosecuting Authority’s specialised commercial crimes unit, Lawrence Mrwebi, who was responsible for dropping charges against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, is due to start in April.
Mrwebi, 55, who is facing charges of defeating the ends of justice, briefly appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday. His case was postponed to April for trial.
Mrwebi is accused of withdrawing corruption charges against Mdluli even though there was a strong case against him. Mdluli was accused of employing friends and family members while he was crime intelligence boss and misusing police funds to buy luxury cars.
The state alleges that Mrwebi instructed the former regional head of the specialised commercial crimes unit, Glynnis Breytenbach, to withdraw the charges against Mdluli, basing his decision on the premise that the NPA and the police had no authority to investigate or prosecute Mdluli as that power lay with the inspector-general of intelligence.
He is also accused of interfering in a case against his friend Terrence Joubert. Joubert and others were arrested in 2011 on charges of fraud and corruption emanating from tenders for services to the NPA but the charges were later withdrawn. Mrwebi allegedly called then prosecutor Nathi Mncube’s office asking for information because he wanted to advise Joubert as a friend, and later allegedly had Joubert's case transferred to his unit.
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