The bail hearing of Eskom corruption accused Michael Lomas has faced a further delay as the corruption case has been transferred to the high court.

Lomas, wearing a white neck brace, appeared in Palm Ridge Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.

Earlier, his bail application was delayed to allow the state to share the case file with the defense.

The hearing was therefore also postponed Lomas could undergo medical testsincluding MRA scans, at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Michael Lomas is looking

The procedure started on Monday evening, being represented by the lawyer Mannie Witz Lomasapologizing for the delay.

Witz explained that his client received medical attention from doctors after a fall in prison.

“It was just a slip up but unfortunately given his age and condition they just needed to treat him and that’s why it’s delayed,” he said.

READ ALSO: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Former Group 5 CEO Mike Lomas

The lawyer confirmed that, for now, the defense will not pursue a bail application.

“We reserve our rights on the matter of bail, but we are not applying at this stage,” Witz said Monday.

He asked for an adjournment, stating that he had just received a new indictment and had not yet had time to review it.

“Obviously it’s a pretty big document, we’ll have time to go through it to prepare and see what needs to be done,” Witz continued.

Transfer from the High Court

Witz also said the defense had no objection to transferring the case to the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, where Lomas would join his co-accused.

The former Eskom contractor will appear as accused 12.

“He will remain in custody, but we reserve our rights. We are not waiving bail by any means and if we make a bail application we will obviously inform the court and (prosecutor) so that arrangements can be made for a suitable place and date for the hearing of the bail application,” he said. added Witz.

READ MORE: Eskom fugitive Lomas ran, but could not hide

Magistrate Philip Venter approved the transfer to the high court and adjourned the case.

“Mr Lomas, your case, at the State’s request, will now be transferred to the Gauteng Johannesburg Division of the High Court for a summary trial. You will be with other co-defendants,” the president said.

Lomas will remain in custody until his next court appearance on December 3.

Last month, Lomas was extradited to South Africa from the United Kingdom (UK) in connection with the upgrade of Eskom’s Kusile Power Station in Mpumalanga between 2014 and 2017.

He was arrested by British police in April 2021 at the request of the South African authorities and subsequently granted bail of £100,000 (R1.7 million at the time).

Lomas was charged with 65 counts of corruption and fraud.

READ MORE: Alleged Eskom fraud fugitive Michael Lomas brought him back to SA

The state claims Eskom paid R745 million to Tubular Construction Projects after former Eskom director Abram Masango and senior manager France Hlakudi fraudulently claimed the company was awarded a contract to build air-cooled condensers at Kusile.

This resulted in additional costs for Eskom, increasing the total contract to R1.4 billion.

Lomas was charged with Masango and Hlakudi, as well as Tubular Construction Projects owner Antonio José Trindade and Babinatlou Business Services owner Maphoko Hudson Kgomoeswana.