Some of the accused in the Free State asbestos case appearing in court, from left to right, Nthimotse Mokhesi, Mahlomola John Matlakala, Edwin Sodi, Sello Joseph Radebe, Kgotso Abel Manyike, Thabane Wiseman Zulu and Matawana Mlamleli.
A 2015 Bentley Continental GT sold for nearly R3.7 million and previously owned by a suspect in the R255m asbestos corruption case is now subject of a fierce legal battle between a Sandton luxury vehicle dealership and a financial institution.
The vehicle was sold to businessman Sello Joseph Radebe, accused number seven in the case and is charged alongside 17 individuals and companies including former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, his erstwhile personal assistant Moroadi Cholota and controversial businessman Edwin Sodi, among others, in the lucrative contract to replace asbestos roofs in houses across the Free State province.
Grandeur Auto, which is described as Sandton's trusted luxury and sports car dealership, bought the Bentley for R1.6m.
This was after Radebe defaulted in payment of the monthly installments, with the arrears accumulating to about R180,000 by March 2020, which meant the full outstanding debt under the installment sale agreement was just over R2.48m.
