NPA disappointed by decision to strike Estina case off the roll

The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate has expressed disappointment at the Free State High Court’s decision to strike off the roll the Estina dairy farm fraud and corruption case.

However, it says it will reinstate the case as soon as possible.

Yesterday’s judgment follows the defence’s application to have the matter removed from the roll, citing undue delays.

This matter emanates from the alleged looting of R280 million from the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department between July 2012 and April 2014.

The first arrests in the case were made in 2018 and later provisionally withdrawn.

The matter was revived in 2022.

NPA spokesperson Adv. Mthunzi Mhaga says, “The information which is the subject of the 342A application was provided to the defence as early as 2023. However, it is only the electronic version of the hard copies of the so called Gupta leaked emails that was not provided.”

“This information came to our possession in February 2024, it was then authenticated and a digital platform was created for the defence to access same. This was provided to them in June 2024, we believe that they had sufficient opportunity and time to prepare for trial,” Mhaga adds.

VIDEO | Adv Stefanie Fick on Estina Dairy Farm case struck off the roll: