Prosecutors in South Africa have withdrawn criminal allegations against suspended national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, saying the available evidence was unlikely to result in a conviction.
Masemola, 62, was charged in April over alleged failures in his supervisory responsibilities linked to a controversial police health-services contract worth about $21 million.
He rejected the accusations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa later suspended the police chief as the criminal proceedings continued.
However, National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi directed that the case be discontinued on Tuesday after examining evidence compiled by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
The prosecution authority said there were no reasonable grounds to expect a successful trial and that continuing with the matter would not serve the public interest.
Masemola had been accused of ignoring warnings about possible fraud surrounding the procurement of the health contract, which was eventually cancelled.
The deal has also resulted in criminal proceedings against 12 senior police officials over their alleged involvement in the procurement process.
The controversy emerged during the Madlanga Commission, a presidential inquiry investigating allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration within South Africa’s police structures.
Mothibi said prosecutors would separately examine how the decision to charge Masemola was reached.
The review will determine whether there were any shortcomings or misconduct in evaluating the evidence and interpreting the law.
The charges must still be formally withdrawn when Masemola appears before a court.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia welcomed the decision and said discussions involving Masemola and President Ramaphosa would determine the next steps.
The presidency has not yet announced whether the suspended commissioner will resume his duties.
The Madlanga Commission was established by President Ramaphosa last September following allegations by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, a provincial police commander, that criminal networks had gained influence within senior government and law-enforcement circles.
Masemola is the third South African police chief to face criminal proceedings while serving in the position.
Former commissioner Jackie Selebi was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 after being found guilty of accepting bribes from Italian drug trafficker Glen Agliotti.
Another former police commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, faced corruption charges in 2017.
Those proceedings were dropped the following year, but he was arrested again in 2019 over related allegations, which he has denied.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong