The Bloemfontein High Court confirmed the conviction of the appellant on one count of Fraud in that he tried to scam the Nala Municipality out of an amount of R 665293.12.
Accused, a B Com graduate, was employed by the Nala Municipality in the finance department. He was clearly aware of how payment of creditors of the Nala Municipality was effected as it was his line function.
He was schooled in computers so much so that he had access to all the computers as an administrator. This meant that he could create the false impression that someone else had access to the computer when in fact it was himself.
The database was also compromised which meant that he could also create the impression that cheques were printed on a specific date whilst they were not. He registered a Close Corporation styled Mekgoe Transport CC of which he was the sole member. He opened a bank account at FNB and thereafter in a fraudulent manner, gained access to the computer of a coworker and printed the cheque.
This cheque no 30224 in the amount of R 665 293.12, printed on the stationery of the Municipality, for services that was never rendered, was issued on 20 November 2008 to Mekgoe Transport.
It was deposited into his personal account on 26 November 2008 and presented for payment at First National Bank Bothaville, The Two signatures on the cheque were also forged. A letter to the bank asking that the cheque be met with payment on the stationery of the municipality was also forged.
The abuse and theft of public money was an aggravating factor also taken into account on sentence.
Note: The NPA’s media statements are available on the website: www.npa.gov.za.
Enquiries:
Nathi Mncube
NPA Spokesperson
Cell: 084 814 8364
Email: media@npa.gov.za
