| 2024/10/25 |
|
Media Statement MPUMALANGA – Thandi Ruth Magagula (40), was sentenced by the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday, 25 October 2024. Her sentence follows after she was arrested by the Hawks Middelburg based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit on Friday, 9 February 2024, for fraud, corruption and money laundering. It is alleged that during April 2013 to July 2015, the accused was appointed by Eskom as a Safety Risk Manager. During that period, she was also a Director of Montoza Engineering and Project CC whereby the company was rendering services to Eskom and that was never declared. The matter was reported to Special Investigating Unit (SIU). During investigation, SIU discovered that the accused failed to declare for conflict of interest to Eskom. The matter was referred to the Hawks for further investigation. During investigation, the Hawks Middelburg based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit established that the accused misrepresented to Eskom on her declaration forms and tender documents that she was not conducting business with Eskom while her company was rendering service to Eskom, causing actual loss of R58 888.76. Investigation was finalised and the matter was referred to public Prosecutor for decision. A warrant of arrest was authorised and executed on Friday, 9 February 2024. The accused appeared before the Middelburg Regional Court and she granted R10 000 bail. The case was postponed to 26 March 2024 in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court Middelburg. The accused appeared before court on several occasions until she was found guilty on 11 October 2024. The accused was on Friday, 25 October 2024 sentenced for fraud and corruption by the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court as follows: Counts 1 to 7: Corruption Sentenced to R50 000.00 fine or two years’ imprisonment. In addition she was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment which is wholly suspended for five years’ on condition that she is not convicted of section 17(1) of the prevention and combating of corrupt activities act 12 of 2004, during the period of suspension. Count 8 and 9 Sentenced to three years’ imprisonment which is wholly suspended for five years’ on condition that she is not convicted for fraud during the period of suspension. Count 10: Contravention of the provisions of Section 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, Act 121 of 1998 was withdrawn. However, confiscation order in terms of Section 18 of Prevention of Organised Crime Act was issued. An amount of R20 000.00 to be paid by the accused into Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) within 30 days. Ends
Enquiries:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService
|
|
|
