FORMER TOP COP SOLOMON LAZARUS ORDERED TO MAKE PAYMENT TO THE STATE

30 SEPTEMBER 2021

The Pretoria Regional Court granted a confiscation order of R599 783 against the former top cop of Crime Intelligence (CI), Major General Solomon Lazarus for his looting of the Secret Services Account of the SAPS (SSA).

The SAPS have access to funds in the SSA to finance covert projects and/or investigations and/or operations and 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. Major General Lazarus was the Chief Financial Officer 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.

Atlantis Motors was identified as a service provider for the purpose of buying vehicles to be used by CI. The motivation for the purchase of all vehicles and the expenditure had to be approved by Lazarus. 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.

Lazarus was found guilty of corruption and on 09 December 2020 sentenced to 10 years in prison for accepting undue gratifications during the period 2008 to 2011 to the value of R231 626.07.

The Regional Magistrate, Adriaan Bekker presiding on both the criminal case and the asset forfeiture application, ordered a confiscation inquiry in terms of Section 18(1) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA) on 09 December 2020.

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 R1 291 326.09 represents historical values and that it should be expressed in current terms, namely R2 178 845.29.

Mr Bekker 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.

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.

Statement issued by Sindisiwe Seboka, Investigating Directorate Spokesperson, 30 September 2021