CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President cyril ramaphosa No further criminal charges will be filed. hidden cash scandal The incident came to light more than two years ago and led to an investigation by a special police unit, prosecutors announced Thursday.
In June 2022, the former national security secretary charged Mr Ramaphosa with kidnapping, bribery and other crimes in connection with the theft of $580,000 in US banknotes hidden on a couch at the president’s ranch.
Former security chief Arthur Fraser claimed that when the money was stolen, Mr Ramaphosa hid it in furniture on his farm to evade South Africa’s foreign exchange laws.
Mr Fraser said in a sworn statement to police that instead of reporting the theft, Mr Ramaphosa had members of the Presidential Security Force track down and kidnap the thieves, then bribe them to keep quiet about the money. He said he tried to cover it up.
The theft, which occurred at Ramaphosa’s hunting ranch in rural northern South Africa in early 2020, had remained silent until Fraser’s accusations. This forced Ramaphosa to admit that the theft had taken place. threw his presidency into turmoil Ahead of a key party leadership vote.
He overcame the scandal re-elected as leader of South Africa In June of this year, a criminal investigation was ongoing. Mr Ramaphosa, 71, was also charged with money laundering, tax evasion and foreign exchange violations.
He denied any wrongdoing and said the cash came from the legal sale of buffalo at Fara Fara Hunting Ranch.
Mr Ramaphosa said he reported the theft to the head of the police protection unit but did not explain why he hid the money in the sofa.
The public prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the decision not to bring charges against Mr Ramaphosa or those involved in his personal protection was taken after a “comprehensive investigative process”.
The scandal, sometimes referred to as “Farmgate” in South Africa, prompted the opposition to introduce an impeachment motion against Ramaphosa in parliament. His African National Congress Party took advantage of its majority prevent movement Ramaphosa was also liquidated by the Reserve Bank at the end of 2022. and an independent monitoring body.
Two men and a woman were arrested last year, one of whom was reportedly a worker at Mr Ramaphosa’s farm. He is charged with burglary and theft.
The allegations against Ramaphosa were seen by some as politically motivated, as Fraser is a close ally of former South African president Jacob Zuma. Zuma resigned in 2018 in the face of corruption allegations and was replaced by Ramaphosa, who had been vice president. Since then, Zuma and Ramaphosa have become bitter political rivals.
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