VBS ARREST: Suspect No. 8 Phillip Truter arrested and ready to throw others under the bus

Suspect number 8 and ex VBS CFO Phillip Truter as arrested and ready to plead guilty. Truter want to plead guilty and become a state witness to give evidence against his former colleagues and co-accussed.

The suspect, a senior executive, could not be arrested a few weeks ago as he was in quarantine amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He is expected to appear in Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday, facing 47 charges of fraud, theft, money laundering, corruption and racketeering.

His seven co-accused have already appeared in court.

A ninth suspect has also appeared in court in connection with money being invested at VBS in violation with municipal laws.

An estimated R2.7 billion went missing from VBS.

The arrest comes as the ANC in Limpopo welcomed a decision to reinstate members implicated in the scandal.

ANC secretary general Ace Magashule said its provincial executive committee in Limpopo accepted a decision made by the party’s top six to reinstate its members.

Provincial treasurer Danny Msiza and the deputy chairperson Florence Radzilani appeared in advocate Terry Motau’s report into the theft of more than R2 billion from the bank.

Additional reporting by Sifiso Zulu.