\n\t\tThe official is one of three people implicated in the extortion of a contractor, allegedly extracting R2.6 million since 2020.\n\t<\/p>\n
A second City Power employee accused of extorting a contractor was this week suspended by the entity.<\/p>\n
The man is one of three people implicated in the alleged extortion of a man who had a long-running association with the utility.<\/p>\n
Two of the alleged extortionists are still City Power employees, while the third \u2013 identified as a runner for the other two \u2013 left the entity last year before moving to a neigbouring municipality.<\/p>\n
The whistle-blower claimed the trio had conspired to extort roughly R2.6 million from him since 2020, often in large cash payments ranging from R100 000 to R250 000 or more<\/p>\n
He spoke out after they had repeatedly attempted to extract R1 million from him by threatening him with the publication of news articles that would implicate him in document fraud.<\/p>\n
Second City Power official suspended<\/p>\n
The material submitted by the complainant featured an affidavit deposed to police, an audio recording of a conversation with the woman identified as the runner, as well as text messages with the freshly suspended official.<\/p>\n
City Power confirmed to The Citizen that the Johannesburg municipality\u2019s group forensic and investigation services (GFIS) was investigating the matter.<\/p>\n
One of the City Power officials had already been suspended when the recent complaint was filed, with the second receiving a suspension letter this week. <\/p>\n
Acknowledgement of the precautionary suspension letter was signed by the second alleged extortionist on 21 April.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter careful consideration of the seriousness of this allegation, management has taken a decision to place you on precautionary suspension pending the investigation of the case,\u201d reads the letter seen by The Citizen.<\/p>\n
The letter ordered the man from City Power premises, forced him to hand over company property and to not contact fellow employees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a reason to believe that your continued presence in the workplace has the potential of hampering with the investigation into the alleged misconduct,\u201d the letter continued. <\/p>\n