Gupta arrests

Ajay and Atul Gupta. Photo: Flickr / Damanpreet Singh

OUTA: ‘Gupta arrests welcome – now for successful extradition’

The Department of Justice confirmed on Monday evening that Atul and Rajesh Gupta have been handcuffed in the United Arab Emirates

Gupta arrests

Ajay and Atul Gupta. Photo: Flickr / Damanpreet Singh

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) says it welcomes the arrests of the two Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh.

The Guptas are considered central figures in state capture, having allegedly used their proximity to former president Jacob Zuma to unduly profit to the tune of billions from lucrative government contracts. The family fled South Africa in 2018 shortly after Zuma left office.

The Department of Justice confirmed on Monday evening, 6 June 2022, that the two Gupta brothers had been handcuffed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

OUTA WANTS GUPTAS’ EXTRADITION EXPEDITED

While the Gupta brothers have been arrested, OUTA says it hopes that South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will cooperate to expedite the Guptas’ extradition so that they can stand trial.

“We’ve always said that fighting corruption in SA requires resilience. That if the rule of law is allowed to take its course, those implicated will eventually get their day in court. It seems like that day is around the corner for the Gupta kingpins, this is a major step forward in the prosecution of state capture culprits,” said Stefanie Fick, OUTA’s Executive Head of Accountability.

“This is a major step forward in the prosecution of state capture culprits,” she added.

“The charges were brought against the brothers after Nulane Investments Director, Iqbal Sharma allegedly received a R25m tender to complete a feasibility survey on the Estina Dairy project in the Free State. The survey was outsourced to Deloitte for R1,5m and R21m was then paid over to Islandsite Investments – a company in which Atul and Rajesh Gupta and their wives were directors. While the arrests have been confirmed by the Office of the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), we hope that South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will cooperate to expedite the Guptas’ extradition so that they can stand trial”

OUTA

Rudie Heyneke, OUTA’s lead investigator on state capture matters, also welcomed the arrest. “It put an end to rumours about the Gupta family’s whereabouts, and with their arrest out of the way, we’re hoping that more arrests and swift prosecutions will follow.”