Hawks: ‘we are going to rid Limpopo of fraudsters’
Five former government employees, including a former senior state accountant together with family members were arrested last Thursday in Mokopane and Polokwane by the Hawks for money laundering, fraud and corruption.
LIMPOPO -Five former employees, including the former senior state accountant of the Department of Health in Limpopo together with family members were arrested last Thursday in Mokopane and Polokwane by the Hawks for money laundering, fraud and corruption to the value of R14 million.
According to the Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, an inquiry into the activities of the suspects started in 2006, after it was found that departmental money was being channelled into several companies with links to the officials.
“During 2012 it was alleged that the accused suspects were employed by the department’s finance section, procurement, nursing college and cost centre. The accused were the owners and co-owners of several closed corporations used to quote for the delivery of goods or services and to conduct business with the department without disclosing their interest (directly or indirectly) in the closed corporations as well as those of their families.
“It was discovered that the suspects, of which most were related, worked together to defraud the government,” Mulaudzi said.
The department together with four other departments in the province were placed under administration in 2011 due to financial mismanagement.
After a meeting between the auditors and prosecutors on 5 and 6 August it was agreed that all the suspects had to be arrested. On 13 August the Hawks took action and arrested 20 suspects, Mulaudzi disclosed.
Isaac Mnisi, Victoria Kubayi, Grace Rampa, Methew Rampa, Maureen Sehoana, Gordon Monye, Mapula Sethowa, Phakiso Nkuna, Gloria Rampa, Sharlotte Baloyi, Sipho Baloyi, Vincent Sethowa, Pearl Monye, Paul Monye, Martha Baloyi, Betty Kubayi, Leonard Monye, Elizabeth Kubayi, Louisa Baloyi and Regina Monye were detained at the Polokwane police station and appeared before the Mankweng magistrate’s court last Friday. “Bail amounting to between R1 000 to R3 000 was granted to 19 of the suspects who will appear before the court again between 14 and 24 September.
Sipho Baloyi was denied bail due to pending cases and his case was remanded to 19 August (Wednesday), Brigadier Mulaudzi told Bosveld on Tuesday afternoon.
A verdict on Wednesday could not be reached by the time Bosveld went to print.
Mulaudzi added that the arrest is the continuation of recovering money that was stolen from the government. “There are many more arrests to follow; we are going to get rid of these criminals in the province!”
