Lamola: Gupta brothers’ extradition request officially filed
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola says they have officially filed extradition requests for Atul and Rajesh Gupta with the United Arab Emirates.
The brothers were arrested by Interpol in Dubai early in June.
They are wanted for fraud on two matters.
One relates to a 2011 contract between the company Nulane and the Free State Agriculture Department.
It's alleged that R24.9 million the department paid to Nulane was transferred to the accounts of several companies, including Gupta-owned entity, Islandsite.
READ: SIU launches probe into corruption at 14 govt departments, entities
The second involves the Vrede Dairy Project, which was also in the Free State.
The R220 million that was set aside to help emerging black farmers was allegedly instead channelled to the accounts of members of the Gupta family and their businesses.
At a briefing on Monday afternoon Lamola said the extradition requests were submitted today.
"The request is made in accordance with the treaty between South Africa and the UAE as well as the United Nations conventions against corruption, which is a multilateral international convention which both countries are member states."
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