Former Eskom contractor Michael Harry Lomas, 77, will remain in custody after his corruption case was postponed to next month for the formal disclosure of the case docket. Lomas appeared frail, using a walker, as he stood before the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, yesterday. His bail application, initially scheduled for this appearance, has been deferred to a later date, with the case now set to resume on October 28.
Lomas is facing 65 charges related to corruption linked to the R1.4 billion earmarked for the upgrade of Eskom’s Kusile power station in Mpumalanga between 2014 and 2017. His defense, led by advocate Mannie Witz, opted to skip the bail application for now, stating that they have yet to review a vast amount of case material. “It is more than a terabyte of files. Once we have studied the content of the case docket, we will consult with our client and take proper instructions,” Witz told the court.
Lomas’ appearance follows his recent extradition from the United Kingdom, a result of a protracted effort by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). He was initially arrested in Emsworth, London, on April 15, 2021, and released on bail of R1.7 million. South Africa’s bid to extradite him was granted by the Westminster Magistrates Court in London on December 15, 2022. Lomas is due back in court on October 28, when further details of the case will be revealed.
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