The two former employees of the Department of Labour’s (DoL) Compensation Fund (CF) allegedly accused of defrauding the state today, 13 March made a U-turn and told the Pretoria Magistrate Court they were ready to proceed with the trial.
During their last appearance on 22 February Maxwell Ramaphosa (36) and Samuel Mfeleng (36) were granted a postponement after they requested the Court to look into the possibility of consolidating all the cases they were involved in and have them concluded as one.
Lawyers representing the alleged accused told the court to ignore their request for a consolidation and proceed on the matter.
The matter is to proceed on 11 May for a trial.
Maxwell Ramaphosa (36) and Samuel Elliot Mfeleng (36) face 15 counts of fraud and 26 counts of money laundering. Ramaphosa and Mfeleng are out on an extended bail of R3 000.
Their matter was transferred from the Pretoria Commercial Crime Court following a guilty plea by their fellow co-accused, Jurry Sehunoe, a physiotherapist operating from Rustenburg in North West.
Sehunoe had earlier broken ranks and pleaded guilty in the matter at the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court for defrauding the Department of Labour of about R5 million. He is due to be sentenced at the end of the month.
The trial of the three accused was initially held at the Pretoria specialised crime court where Sehunoe was found guilty. Following the guilty plea by Sehunoe, the case of Ramaphosa and Mfeleng was transferred to the Pretoria Magistrate Court in a separation of trial.
Ramaphosa and Mfeleng are accused of processing and approving claims made by Sehunoe for services not rendered. They are alleged to have, between February 2009 and November 2009, made 15 deposits into the account of Sehunoe.
The two former public servants are also appearing in two other alleged fraud cases. In one case they are part of a group of seven former employees including a Doctor accused of defrauding the DoL’s CF about R1 million.
In the other case they are part of a quartet including a physiotherapist accused of allegedly defrauding the department about half a million rand. In both these cases the accused are out on a warning.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the Department of Labour responsible for cover of workers injured during work or who sustain diseases during the course of occupation.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
Two ‘alleged serial fraudsters’ make a u-turn and say they are ready for trial for defrauding DoL’s Compensation Fund
