State accuses Lomas of trying to evade trial in South Africa
Lomas was extradited from the UK in September last year after five failed legal attempts to block his handover to South African authorities.
Michael Lomas faces over 60 counts of corruption linked to the R1.5-billion construction of air condition condensers at Eskom’s Kusile Power Station. Picture: Mongezi Koko/ EWN.
JOHANNESBURG - The state has accused former millionaire contractor Michael Lomas of trying to evade trial in South Africa.
The 77-year-old faces over 60 counts of corruption linked to the R1.5 billion construction of air condition condensers at Eskom's Kusile Power Station.
Lomas was extradited from the UK in September last year after five failed legal attempts to block his handover to South African authorities.
He was arrested in the UK in 2021 and granted a million bail at the time.
Now, in the Johannesburg High Court, he is being cross-examined over his evidence in an attempt to secure bail.
READ: Fraud-accused Lomas facing 61 counts of corruption linked to R1.5bn Eskom scandal
The state questioned his attempts to resist extradition, which Lomas claimed were due to concerns about his mental health.
“My attorneys certainly had concerns about my mental health, and that was presented to the court. I wasn’t present at any of those proceedings… their concern was that I might commit suicide.”
Lomas maintains he poses no flight risk and argues his health complications should warrant his release.
It was revealed in court that Lomas travelled to five different countries after an arrest warrant was issued for him.
The court heard how, months before his arrest warrant was issued, Lomas sold his Knysna home, rented a car, drove to Namibia, and then boarded a one-way flight to the United Kingdom.
Lomas defended his actions, claiming he went to Namibia to attend a motoring event and travelled to London to spend Christmas with his son.
But his travels didn’t stop there.
He visited Italy, France, and Turkey for a day and spent three months in Australia, all while South African authorities were trying to track him down.
State advocate Dawie Joubert argued that Lomas's travel history is proof he intended to evade justice.
"Your co-accused were arrested. You had every opportunity to return to South Africa and face trial. Nothing prevented you from boarding a plane."
His bail hearing is set to continue next week on Wednesday.