British national Michael Lomas is due back in South Africa to face fraud charges.
The former Eskom contractor is facing 41 charges of corruption over a R745 million payment related to the construction of the Kusile power station.
Lomas was first ordered to return to South Africa in 2022, but his extradition was delayed as he sought to appeal the decision.
A UK court dismissed his appeal last month and his extradition is successfully being completed on Friday morning.
Seven-year investigation
An investigation was launched in 2017 after a complaint was made about a contract relating to the multi-billion rand power station.
The Hawks enlisted the skills of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigative Directorate, who had secured five arrest warrants by 2019.
The NPA confirmed in 2021 that the Investigative Directorate had obtained a R1.4 billion asset freezing order against the accused.
The warrant for Lomas’ arrest was issued after the Briton had left South Africa, setting the long extradition process in motion.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed to eNCA that two executives and two contractors have already been arrested, with Lomas being the fifth suspect in the case.
Arrested in England
Lomas was first arrested in 2021, with Bloomberg reporting that the Westminster Magistrate’s Court granted him £100 000 bail at the time.
He offered a further £250,000 as surety as he began his bid to convince the British courts that he had no case to answer in South Africa.
In December 2022, his extradition was approved and despite arguing that he would be a suicide risk, his appeal was dismissed in late August.
Lomas is expected to land at OR Tambo International at roughly 10 am, whereafter he will be read his rights and arrested.
He is expected to be formally charged at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
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