Hands off my account - IFP man

An IFP member of the KZN legislature wants to stop the police and prosecuting authority from freezing his personal bank account.

Durban - An IFP member of the provincial legislature accused of being part of a multimillion-rand housing tender fraud syndicate has launched a high court application to interdict the police and prosecuting authority from freezing his personal bank account.

However, in papers before the court on Friday, the State denied putting a hold on Hassan Farouk Motala's personal account, saying an order had been granted to put a hold on his business accounts.

Motala and his company, Yusair Property Developers, are the applicants who brought an urgent application against the minister of safety and security, the director of public prosecutions, the investigating officer in the housing tender fraud case and Absa Bank.

Durban High Court Judge Philip Nkosi adjourned the matter indefinitely.

In his opposing affidavit, Warrant Officer Yoganathan Govender, alleged Motala's two companies, Yusair and Ameen Empire, were used as conduits to siphon money.

"Further to this, the prejudiced amount that (Motala) would have defrauded the State is the sum of R22.2 billion," said Govender.

Motala said Yusair dealt with property development and the supply of building materials and hardware to the construction industry.

He said his provincial legislature salary and benefits were paid into his personal account as well as payments from his business clients - emerging contractors he supplies materials to on credit.

Motala said he was charged with fraud and or corruption, for allegedly being part of a scheme where business entities are alleged to have made payments to him indirectly and through third parties, to influence the awarding of tenders issued by the government.

"In the course of investigations, a hold was placed on my account held with (Absa Bank) by (Govender)," said Motala in his affidavit.

Daily News