Top cop uses Secret Services funds to buy himself, wife and daughter luxury cars
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State has managed to get a successful prosecution for a former top cop Solomon Lazarus who looted crime intelligence money meant for secret services and spent on himself and family to fund luxury lifestyle.
In his appearance at the Pretoria Regional court the state was also granted a Confiscation Order of R599 783.
Lazarus, who was a Crime Intelligence (CI) Major General of the Secret Services within SAPS had access to funds in the Secret Services Account (SSA) meant to finance covert projects and/or investigations and/or operations.
He created a front company styled Universal Technical Enterprises CC (UTE), which was operated inter alia for the purchase of covert vehicles to be utilised in covert projects and investigations of CI.
Lazarus was also the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the SSA and also a member of UTE. The funds used by UTE originated from the SAPS SSA, which were in turn generated from the state fiscus.
This is according to Investigating Directorate Spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka who also said that Atlantis Motors was identified as a service provider for the purpose of buying vehicles to be used by CI.
The purchase of all vehicles and the expenditure had to be approved by Lazarus himself.
“From the R64 million in transactions between UTE and Atlantis motors, money was transferred to a slush fund in the books of Atlantis Motors. Lazarus then used his position to purchase personal vehicles for his wife and his children. He also used the same coffers to pay a deposit in respect of his personal cars” said Seboka.
Upon making court appearance, Lazarus was found guilty of corruption on 09 December 2020 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for accepting undue gratifications during the period 2008 to 2011 to the value of R231 626.07.
The state decided to add asset forfeiture application on his criminal case in order to recover some of the looted funds.
Presiding over the trial was Regional Magistrate, Adriaan Bekker he granted an order for confiscation.
“During the confiscation enquiry in March 2021, the Investigating Directorate (ID) argued that Lazarus received benefits totaling R1 242 132.31 from January 2008 to April 2012. This includes benefits received in respect of an ATV, a Kia Picanto, a Nissan Murano, a Honda CBR and a payment in respect of a scooter. The state also argued that the R1 291 326.09 represent historical values and that it should be expressed in current terms, namely R2 178 845.29.”
It was also found that Lazarus’ total benefit was R599 783, taking into consideration the Consumer Price index to determine their current value as calculated on 09 March 2021.
The R599 783 value was made up of several items:
- The ATV: R 66 855
- The Kia: R 107 000 25.3
- The Murano: R381 243
- The CBR: R 44 685
Before this order was made, Lazarus appealed against his conviction and sentence and the prosecution team is finalising the case record to take the appeal further. Lazarus remains on bail pending the appeal.
