PRETORIA - Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala has withdrawn from his plea agreement with the state in the R228-million SAPS tender corruption case linked to his company, Medicare24.
Matlala made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.
The development comes after the court rejected the state’s proposed eight-year prison sentence, indicating that a 12-year term would be more appropriate.
Matlala had previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering linked to the controversial tender, following two months of negotiations with prosecutors.
His lawyer, Anneline van den Heever, told Magistrate Ignatius Petrus du Preez that her client was withdrawing from the plea agreement.
Matlala also confirmed that he no longer wished to proceed with the deal.
The matter was postponed to 11 September.