Department
21 January 2009
Ann Voster, Nicholaas van Zyl Vermaak and Benjamin De Winnaar were arrested
early this morning by the Bloemfontein office of the Directorate of
Special Operations (DSO), commonly known as the Scorpions in connection with
fraud, corruption and money laundering investigation amounting to approximately
R9,2 million.
The office of the Auditor General identified some areas of concern relating
to procurement processes in the Free State Health Department and recommended
that an investigation be initiated. In April 2007 an investigation was
authorised in terms of section 28 of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
Act to look into allegations of complicity on the part of the accused
persons.
The period under investigation was from April 2002 to December 2004. The
State will allege and adduce evidence to corroborate claims that Voster
colluded with Vermaak and De Winnaar (both of whom were the employees of the
department) by criminally manipulating procurement and tender procedures to
their advantage.
Their modus operandi involved the use of a company, camouflaged as three
independent business entities when bidding for tenders to supply the department
with Information Technology (IT) equipment.
The accused will face a total of 396 counts of fraud, six counts of
corruption and one count of money laundering. The investigations are ongoing
and more arrests will be made. They appeared briefly before the Bloemfontein
District court today and were granted bail at R10 000 each and conditions are
that they surrender their passports and report to the Investigating Officer
twice a week.
The case has been postponed to a provisional date of 11 March 2009, in order
to transfer it to the Regional Court.
Enquiries:
Tlali Tlali
National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson
Cell: 082 333 3880
Issued by: National Prosecuting Authority
21 January 2009
