Last week, the Middelburg Regional Court convicted and sentenced two senior Hawks officers to various sentences for defrauding their employer.
Richard Lekotswane Nkwanyana (48) was employed as a Commander Anti – Corruption Unit and Peter Mathekanyana Molapo (58) was stationed in the organised crime in Middelburg as a captain.
During trial, the state led by Advocate Patrick Nkuna led testimonies of the owner of the guest house, evidence of the finance personnel from the police who told court that there were discrepancies on the invoices the pair submitted including the letterhead and the special manager’s discount.
The state further led evidence of the hand writing expert who also testified that the invoices were forged.
In aggravation of sentence, the state told court that fraud is inherently ugly crime especially if it is committed by a person of stature and responsibility.
Nkwanyana was sentenced to 5 years direct imprisonment on two counts of fraud, and one count forgery and uttering. Molapo was sentenced to 6 years direct imprisonment on two counts of fraud and two of forgery and uttering.
Meanwhile, Nkwanyana has another pending case where he is standing trial on three counts of theft and three counts of defeating the ends of justice in the Nelspruit Regional Court.
