The abnormally high volume of claims in a short space of time, excessively inflated value of claims, lack of supporting documentation, fictitiously created claims and non-existent patients were some of the variables that led to the nabbing of three former employees of the Department of Labour’s (DoL) Compensation Fund (CF) accused of defrauding the department.
A forensic investigator testified in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today (October 2) in the trial of Maxwell Ramaphosa, Samuel Elliot Mfeleng and Kgabo Johanna Methi - allegedly accused of defrauding the Department of Labour’s (CF) R476 150,58 - that no paper work existed to reconcile the inflated claims handled by the trio.
He told the Court that it was this lack of paper trail that raised red flags and further investigations were carried out which showed the accused were working as a syndicate to defraud the Department of Labour. The forensic investigator told the Court that the accused had for years been assigned to handle claims from the designated Gauteng South Region.
However, he testified that they started deviating and handled the processing claims outside the designated areas of accountability without permission from their superiors. The investigator also testified that a supervisor assigned to oversee the accused was also a member of the scam to defraud the department.
Ramaphosa, Mfeleng and Methi are accused to colluding with Jones Modau, a physiotherapist based in Rustenburg, North West. Modau pleaded guilty in the matter at the Pretoria Specialised Crime Court before it was transferred to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. He is awaiting sentencing.
The three former civil are alleged to have recruited Modau to supply his practice number and banking details which were to be used to channel fraudulent claims. Ramaphosa, Mfeleng and Methi have pleaded not guilty.
The private investigator told the Court that the trio used intricate means to by-pass the system so as to enable themselves to process fictitious claims. He further told the Court that Modau has since denied knowledge of the patients which it is alleged he treated to effect the claims, as he had no records/files of them.
The matter was postponed to December 10 and 11 for further cross-examination.
In a separate development, Ramaphosa and Mfeleng are also ensnared in two other alleged fraud cases.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity of the Department of Labour. The Fund covers workers injured or disabled at work or/for diseases sustained from the hazardous work environment.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
Abnormal volume of claims, inflated claims and lack of supporting documentation led to the nabbing of three former civil servants alleged to have defrauded Department of Labour
