National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams has denied reports that he will drop charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Monday.
Abrahams has also rejected allegations of political interference, saying he will make a decision soon.
Meanwhile, DA shadow Justice Minister Glynnis Breytenbach has called on Abrahams to immediately withdraw the fraud charges against Gordhan and two SARS officials and resign. Gordhan is expected to appear in court on Wednesday. Breytenbach says reports show that Abrahams ignored vital evidence in his decision to charge Gordhan, Ivan Pillay, and Oupa Magashula.
“Clearly the charges are based on very flimsy evidence to start off with. Having seen the legal opinion written by Symington in 2009 already saying there is nothing wrong with early retirement and the payment made it’s evident the NPA ignored the evidence that’s been there all the time, they should withdraw the charges and Abrahams should resign.”
The National Prosecuting Authority laid fraud charges against the Finance Minister for signing off an early retirement to the value of R1.1 million for SARS official Ivan Pillay. Support is pouring for Gordhan ahead of his court appearance.
[Source: SABC]
