Police spy boss wins first round

Embattled former spy boss Richard Mdluli is off the hook for fraud and corruption charges - at least for now.

Yesterday, the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria provisionally withdrew charges against him for allegedly defrauding the police and a Pretoria car dealership of more than R90000, and for causing them to lose a further R1.28-million.

He was arrested in September and briefly appeared in court for allegedly misappropriating tens of thousands of rands from, among others, the police's witness protection fund.

At the time, Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela said: "Investigations are continuing but we are tying up the loose ends."

The charges were provisionally withdrawn, according to National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga, because of "insufficient evidence".

Mhaga said the charges would be reinstated if additional evidence come to light.

Mdluli was due to answer to charges that he had used taxpayers' money to help pay for a top-of-the range BMW.

He also allegedly registered his relatives, girlfriends and their families as covert police intelligence operatives and paid them accordingly.

Mdluli - who was suspended as head of crime intelligence after being arrested earlier this year on a charge of murder - allegedly bought a 7-series BMW last year and solicited a R90526 discount from BMW dealership Leo Haese.