Three former Department of Labour Compensation Fund employees, found guilty of defrauding the entity of R470 000, will be sentenced in October following their convictions in May.
Their sentencing has been delayed by the outstanding Correctional and Social Services reports which, the court heard today, will be ready in September.
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 30 May found Maxwell Ramaphosa, Samuel Mfeleng and Kgabo Johanna Methi guilty for defrauding the department’s Compensation Fund of R476 150 58.
Ramaphosa and Mfeleng were found guilty on 10 counts of fraud and money laundering, while Methi was successfully convicted on three counts of fraud.
In a statement on Wednesday, department spokesperson Teboho Thejane said the court today heard that the Correctional and Social Services reports of Ramaphosa and Mfeleng were outstanding. Methi’s reports have been completed, he said.
The three accused have been remanded in custody since the guilty verdict.
The three former officials were found guilty of colluding with a physiotherapist Dr Jones Mothemola Modau by siphoning the Compensation Fund using fictitious claims and channelling the money into Modau’s account and a friend’s driving school account which would later be shared.
Dr Modau pleaded guilty in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court and his fellow accused’s matter was transferred to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in a separation of trial.
“Modau was handed multiple suspended sentences by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for defrauding the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund,” Thejane said.
He was sentenced to three years of correctional supervision or house arrest, but is allowed to go to work and church.
“On the same charge of fraud, he was also handed a further three years - suspended for five years - on condition that he does not commit any theft or fraud during the next five years. On a charge of money laundering, he was sentenced to two years suspended for a five-year period,” Thejane added. – SAnews.gov.za
