Cat Matlala rejects plea deal
Matlala appeared in court on Monday after Magistrate Ignatius du Preez rejected the original plea agreement last week.
Tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has withdrawn from his plea agreement with the state after the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court proposed a harsher prison sentence.
Matlala appeared in court on Monday after Magistrate Ignatius du Preez rejected the original plea agreement last week.
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He had pleaded guilty to corruption, fraud and money laundering linked to a R228 million South African Police Service (SAPS) health services contract awarded to his company, Medicare24 Tshwane District.
As part of the agreement, Matlala had also undertaken to testify as a state witness in collaboration with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
However, the court ruled that the proposed sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, with seven years suspended, was too lenient as it would have resulted in only eight years behind bars. Magistrate du Preez instead proposed an effective 12-year direct prison sentence.
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On Monday, Matlala’s legal representative confirmed that he had rejected the revised proposal, resulting in the plea agreement falling away.
