Alec Hogg: Gradually then suddenly – it happens with criminals, too

In The Sun Also Rises swashbuckling author Ernest Hemingway writes: "How did you go bankrupt?" followed by the often-quoted response…"Gradually, then suddenly." It's the same for criminal justice. No amount of vox populi screaming will hasten the "gradual" process. But similarly, not even an army of overpaid lawyers is able to stem the momentum once "suddenly" occurs..Read also: Alec Hogg: Discipline and details, the two key attributes of SA's super wealth creator.After years of doing the heavy lifting by NPA chief Shamila Batohi and her team, SA is entering the "suddenly" stage. Last week saw high profile arrests of Free State tenderpreneurs closely linked to the ANC secretary general Ace Magashule. Yesterday the news broke that one Philip Truter, former CFO of heavily pillaged VBS Bank, has cut a deal that sends him to jail for an effective seven years..Truter, who will provide a library of evidence, was acting rationally. Throughout the R1.9bn VBS fraud, the initial response from interviewed criminals has been denial (see below). But when investigator Adv Terry Motau explained to them how a section of the Financial Services Regulation Act gave immunity to turncoats, many VBS insiders changed their stories 180 degrees and 'fessed up.___STEADY_PAYWALL___.Read also: Alec Hogg: The secret to business success in a single word – timing.Predictably, Truter has followed the same path. After ratting out his executive colleagues, he will now serve an effective seven years in orange overalls. The looters-in-chief, including a couple of former KPMG partners, face a multiple of that. Proving once more that there is no honour among thieves – law enforcement's strongest weapon..For your attention today….For downloading….* With a number of very high profile politicians about to get their come-uppance over fraud which cost SA taxpayers almost R2bn in repayments to depositors, it's time for a refresher on the VBS scandal. A couple of our podcasts from the time will will help:.– VBS: A sickening Third World ponzi scheme fuelled by politicians is downloadable here: https://www.biznews.com/premium/2018/10/16/vbs-ponzi-scheme-fuelled-by-politicians.– The Editor's Desk: The VBS scandal and the Limpopo ANC can be found here: https://www.biznews.com/premium/2018/10/16/vbs-ponzi-scheme-fuelled-by-politicians.Webinar Alert….* Did you know it's a crime for government officials to do business with the state? At noon today join what promises to be a lively discussion about the laws governing professional ethics in the public sector, with veteran broadcaster Tim Modise. His Thursday Noon webinar guests include: Public Service Commissioner Michael Seloane and Open Secrets Researcher Mamello Mosiana. Sign up here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1324111475714234383..DOWNLOAD THE FREE BIZNEWS.COM APP.Click on the links below to download your own BizNews.com App:.Apple: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/biznews-com/id1517392839.Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodbarber.biznews&hl=en

Alec Hogg: Gradually then suddenly – it happens with criminals, too

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