On Monday 14 October 2010, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in the NPA, with the assistance of a Court appointed curator, seized an amount of R3 million, two BMW 3 series, BMW 1 Series, mini cooper and a vacant stand valued at R280 000 situated in Amandasig Pretoria North, belonging to Dr Sello Solomon Ntsoko. This was after the North Gauteng High Court, on 11 October 2010, granted the AFU a preservation order in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The preservation order authorised the seizure of the movable and immovable property pending the outcome of an application by the National Director of Public Prosecutions for the forfeiture of the property.
The criminal case is still under investigations. It is alleged that during 2009, Dr Ntsoko defrauded the Compensation Commissioner (the Fund) of R12 143 417.92 by submitting 1919 claims to the Fund in respect of services he allegedly rendered to 49 patients who suffered from occupational injuries and/or diseases. Investigations revealed that former employees of the Fund allegedly assisted him in processing and paying the said claims.
Dr Ntsoko never consulted with any of the 49 patients, persons mentioned above and as such all his claims from the fund were unlawful. Furthermore, he allegedly inflated the said claims in that he would, in most instances, claim not less than R4 000 for a single consultation, which claim is ludicrous for a general practitioner.
Immediately after payments from the Fund into Dr Ntsoko’s bank account, he allegedly started making internet and/or bank cheque payment and purchased immovable property, a number of luxury vehicles and transferred an amount of R3 million into his investments accounts.
He registered the said property in the name of his sister. All purchases were made after the account was credited with the funds from the Fund. His sister had no legitimate sources of income sufficient to justify the interests in the said property. According to the court order, Dr Ntsoko may not deal in any manner with the property pending the outcome of the forfeiture proceedings.
Enquiries:
Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga
Cell: 072 198 6863
E-mail: mcmhaga@npa.gov.za
Source: National Prosecuting Authority
