Pretoria – Two police officers accused of stealing from a crime intelligence fund appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The matter was postponed to 12 November for the State to respond to the defence’s request for further particulars.

The two officers are crime intelligence unit chief financial officer Major General Solly Lazarus and the unit’s head of logistics Colonel Hein Barnard.

Both have been suspended and charged with theft, fraud, and corruption.

This was initially said to involve R1.1m, but on 17 July the amount they were accused of stealing was reduced to R370 000.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said on Wednesday an application by the defence for further particulars was received on Tuesday.

He said it was an attempt to get a postponement and to blame the State for not providing certain details.

‘Special account’

The defence said some of the requested information related to a “special account” used by the policemen.

It argued that the complete details of the account needed to be provided, including all transactions and creations.

Lazarus and Barnard were granted bail of R10 000 each in December.

In 2011, the unit’s former head Richard Mdluli was also charged with fraud and corruption following alleged misuse of the unit’s funds.

Mdluli allegedly used the money to purchase luxury vehicles.

The charges against him were later withdrawn.

– SAPA