| 2025/01/28 |
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Media Statement
WESTERN CAPE – The Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court have on 28 January 2025 convicted and sentenced Pieter Jacobus Adams (57) to ten years imprisonment for numerous counts of fraud. Adams was sentenced, after he pleaded guilty on 435 counts of fraud, to ten (10) years imprisonment of which six (6) years was suspended for a period of five (5) years. Effectively, Adams will serve four (4) years direct imprisonment. Furthermore, confiscation order in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998, full pension fund benefit amount of R 510 106.31 held in the Municipal Workers Retirement Fund will be deposited to Bergrivier Municipality. It was reported that Adams was employed by the Bergrivier Municipality in Piketberg as a Chief Clerk, Credit Control, from 01 July 2002 until his resignation on 25 November 2019. During the period between March 2016 and September 2019, Adams allegedly issued 700 918.3 units of free electricity tokens for pre-paid meters for customers to the value of R1 310 507.40. The accused would receive cash from the customers enriching himself. He would fraudulently load free electricity tokens on the system for the customers. Municipality ended up running at a loss to the total amount of R1 310 507.40. The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for probing and on 07 March 2023 a warrant of arrest was executed which led to his arrest whereafter he was granted bail. The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Makgato has welcomed the sentence and commended the team on this achievement. Ends
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