South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has been cleared to not face criminal charges over a hidden cash scandal that was revealed more than two years ago.
The case which was filed in 2022 by former national security chief, Arthur Fraser against Ramaphosa, leveled accusations of kidnapping, bribery and other crimes in relation to the theft of $580,000 in U.S. banknotes that was stashed in a couch at the president’s ranch.
He survived the scandal and was reelected as South African leader this June, while the criminal investigation had been ongoing. Ramaphosa, 71, was also accused of money laundering, tax evasion and breaching foreign currency laws over the cash.
The South African President denied any acts of wrongdoing and said the cash came from the legitimate sale of buffaloes at his Phala Phala game farm.
Ramaphosa said he reported the theft to the head of his police protection unit, though he didn’t explain why the money was hidden in the couch.
Prosecutors said in a statement that the decision not to bring any charges against Ramaphosa or anyone on his security detail came after “a comprehensive investigation process.”
The scandal, at times referred to as “farmgate” in South Africa, led to opposition parties bringing an impeachment motion against Ramaphosa in Parliament. His African National Congress party used its majority to block the motion in late 2022, while the reserve bank and an independent watchdog also cleared Ramaphosa.
Reports indicate that continuous investigations last year led to the arrest of two men and a woman, reportedly workers at Ramaphosa’s farm, charged with breaking and entering and theft.