Cape Town - Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Ronald Lamola has maintained that controversial Gupta brothers Rajesh and Atul arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained behind bars.
The minister informed the MPs that the request for extradition of Atul and Rajesh was handed to the United Arab Emirates on July 25.
“At this stage extradition proceedings are ongoing and therefore subjudice. The department of Justice and Constitutional Development engages with the UAE authorities on an ongoing basis,” he said.
Lamola said they received forma confirmation that the two brothers were in the cells and that they attempted to apply for bail but it was denied.
“Our authorities were there to deliver the extradition request personally and it was confirmed that they were arrested in the UAE.”
He dismissed suggestions that holding a joint briefing with National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Shamila Batohi about the extradition of Gupta brothers was unwise and blurred the independence of the prosecuting body.
Responding to oral questions session in the National Assembly from DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach, Lamola said that would mean that he could not be in the same room with Batohi, the NPA, prosecutors and judges.
“Independence means I can't interfere with prosecutorial decisions,” he said.
The Gupta brothers, Rajesh and Atul, were reportedly arrested in the United Arab Emirates in June after Interpol issued red notices.
Their reported arrest was in connection with the charges related to procurement fraud involving R24.9 million paid between November 2011 and April 2012 by the Free State Department of Agriculture to a company called Nulane Investments 204.
In the wake of the Gupta brothers' arrest, Lamola and Batohi held a briefing to give an update on their extradition.
Lamola said the extradition briefing dealt with criminal and diplomatic aspects handled by the NPA and his department respectively.
“It is not only a matter handled by the NPA,” he said.
“We will continue to work together as long as we don't interfere with prosecutorial decisions,” Lamola added.
Lamola also said his department has capacity and through cooperation with Dirco to follow up with counterparts with the jurisdictions where extradition applications have been made, Including UAE and Malawi where self proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri absconded after being granted bail.
Cape Times