Court overturns contempt ruling against prosecutor in Sibanyoni extortion case - EWN

The Mpumalanga High Court has set aside the contempt of court conviction and arrest warrant against state prosecutor Mkhuseli Ntaba.

The charges relate to an extortion case involving taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni.

The ruling follows a controversial bail hearing in which former chief magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni struck the extortion case against Sibanyoni, fellow taxi boss Bafana Sindane and two co-accused off the court roll.

Sibanyoni and his co-accused face extortion and money laundering charges over allegations that they demanded more than R2.2 million in protection fees from a mining businessman.

The matter was re-enrolled at the Delmas Magistrates' Court and they have all been granted bail of R70,000 each.

The matter stems from may’s bail proceedings at the Kwaggafontein Magistrates’ Court, where state Ntaba had requested a postponement due to other court commitments and travel arrangements.

When he failed to appear on the rescheduled date, Tonjeni found him guilty of contempt, authorised a warrant for his arrest and removed the criminal case from the roll.