The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday granted bail of R3 000 each to a high-ranking police officer and six others accused of fraud and corruption.

Brigadier Stephina Mahlangu and her co-accused appeared in court in connection with four irregular contacts in the national police commissioner’s corporate services office valued at more than R960 000.

The other accused are businesspersons Kishene Chetty, Kumarasen Prithiviraj, Salamina Khoza, Harry Milanzi, Abigayle Esau and Lorette Joubert.

Investigating Directorate spokesperson (ID) Sindisiwe Seboka said:

“The contracts in question were awarded between 2014 and 2017 for the procurement of toners, educational material and digital recording systems. The group faces charges of fraud, theft, corruption and forgery.”

The group was arrested over the weekend and is being held at the Silverton police station.

ID head advocate Andrea Johnson said the arrests were a clear indication no one, including any government department, would be exempt where there was proof of criminality.

“The consistent hard work of the joint ID/SAPS team is commended,” Johnson added.

The group is due back in court on 29 June for allocation to the regional court.