crimes
28 August 2007
The past week has been quite a busy one for the South African Police Service
Commercial Crime Units. Through successful police interventions, losses
amounting to millions of rand have been prevented.
In what has been described as a major fraud and corruption scam involving
officials from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Health Department and private
contractors, three KwaZulu-Natal private contractors, namely Selvan Govender
(39), Mayandhree Govender (34) both of Pinetown and Bischamkumar Prithraj (39)
of Malvern, where arrested and charged with fraud and corruption. They have
been released on R25 000 bail each and their cases have been postponed to
different dates in September and October 2007. In addition, four private
companies (Medi-World Medical and Surgical Supplies cc, Nicho Enterprises,
Titan Medical Supplies and Rosswin Technologies) have also been charged with
fraud, corruption and money laundering.
This investigation involves at least twelve hospitals (Appelsbosch,
Bethesda, Ceza, Charles Johnson Memorial, Church of Scotland, Edendale, Ekombe,
Hillcrest, King Edward, Nkonjeni, Prince Mshiyeni and Wentworth). It is alleged
that since 1999, certain private contractors have been bribing and corrupting
officials to secure lucrative government contracts to supply hospitals with
goods and services. It is estimated that contracts worth R9,2 million have been
allocated to these private contractors in this manner. The provincial Health
Department is said to have lost about R860 000,00 in the process. Furthermore,
it is estimated that almost R670 000 00 was paid to government officials in the
form of bribes.
Regarding convictions and sentences, a 37 year old Limpopo man, Pieter van
Tonder, was found guilty of defrauding two major banks of more than R500 000
during 2006. It was proven in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court
that by using false identity documents, van Tonder applied and was granted
finance to buy vehicles from three different dealerships in Polokwane, Limpopo
and Springs, Gauteng. All vehicles have since been repossessed. Van Tonder was
sentenced to eight years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on
conditions. He will serve a further three under correctional supervision. Van
Tonder has been declared unfit to possess a firearm.
In a separate incident, Mapula Paulinah Mogashoa, aged 31, of Polokwane,
Limpopo, was convicted on fraud charges and sentenced to five years suspended
for five years. Between December 2005 and January 2006, Mogashoa stole twelve
cheques of various amounts from her employer (a major bank). A total of R164
994 was defrauded. The court ordered that she pay R140 000 back to the
bank.
We hereby urge everyone to report any criminal activities via SAPS Crime
Stop number: 08600 10111
Enquiries:
Captain Percy Morokane
National Spokesperson
Tel: 012 393 5541
Cell: 082 778 5602
Issued by: South African Police Service
28 August 2007
