| 2024/07/24 |
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Media Statement GAUTENG – Owner of EThekwini Workshop and Mobile (Pty) Ltd, Kesihdeen Muruven (59), and associate, Shane Pillay (54), were arrested at the OR-Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) on Tuesday, 23 July 2024 after they landed from Durban on a mission to payoff Wesbank fraud investigators an amount of R150 000 to curtail fraud and corruption investigation against Muruven. EThekwini Workshop and Mobile (Pty) Ltd, is a subcontractor to Wesbank for repairs to the Kwazulu Natal Provincial Department of Education scholar transport buses. It is alleged that two buses that financed by Wesbank were taken to Muruven’s workshop for repairs. The workshop charged an amount of R578 000 for the repairs that were scheduled for 21 June 2024. The claim was processed and paid on 28 June, despite the fact that the repairs never took place. An investigation ensued after it came to light that the invoice was actually fraudulent. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption investigators were alerted to the allegations and worked around the clock with Wesbank investigators. When Muruven was approached, he promised to pay R150 000 in order for the investigation to be stopped. He promised to fly from Durban to ORTIA to give investigators money to this effect. Muruven and Pillay met with the investigators at ORTIA as arranged. He had R110 000 in cash that he handed to them, and he and Pillay were immediately arrested at one of the ORTIA restaurants and detained. They have both been charged for fraud and corruption. Other charges may be added in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). The Hawks will persist with a probe in an effort to unearth how widespread these corrupt activities are. They appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 24 July 2024. The case has been adjourned until Wednesday, 31 July 2024, pending a bail application. The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, has acknowledged the prompt work by the investigators in this case. “We will not allow corruption to take place on our watch, be it in public institutions or private entities. The manifestation of corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy hampers economic development, and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division, and so forth. The funds that were unduly gained in this case could have instead been used to address some of these challenges faced by our country,” he said. Ends
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