news april 2008

Fraud News from Africa: April 2008

Nabbed while out on bail

A man who was out on bail for allegedly committing fraud has been arrested - for contravening one of his bail conditions and, again, fraud.

The man is also under investigation for allegedly defrauding the SA Revenue Service (Sars) of about R15-million. (Read more...)

Former boxing champion on fraud charge

FORMER South African featherweight boxing champion Jackie Gunguluza will face trial in August for allegedly defrauding a bank.

The 44-year-old former three-time champion who, in his heyday, was affectionately known as “Pressure Cooker” in boxing circles, was in the King William’s Town Regional Court yesterday to hear his trial date for the fraud allegations.

The state alleges that Gunguluza applied for vehicle finance on October 9 last year with fake documents. This was allegedly after the bank had turned down his application as he did not qualify for a loan. (Read more...)

Couple bust for pension fraud

A northern KwaZulu-Natal couple - found with hundreds of illegal documents - were arrested for pension fraud, police said on Tuesday.

"Police found 141 birth certificates, 65 identity documents, one Standard Bank card, one pension card, 29 Ithala bank cards, and a pile of illegal pension registration forms. (Read more...)

Top EC officials’ computers stolen

EASTERN Cape government departments are battling major security breaches after many laptops and computers with sensitive information on them were stolen from the offices of senior managers.

The Daily Dispatch has established that eight departments have been targeted since last December. In the past three weeks alone, thieves have hit three departments. (Read more...)

Khampepe report to be released

Political opposition to the dissolution of the Scorpions will be significantly strengthened by the release of the full report of the Khampepe commission by the Presidency next Monday. (Read more...)

Duo fight to take case out of court

FORMER Mpumalanga officials implicated in a R500000 theft and fraud case, believe that the matter should not be tried in a criminal court.

Lawyers for former Ehlanzeni district mayor Jeri Ngomane and former municipal manager Thoko Mashiane argued that the charges lack substance for a trial and that it was inappropriate for the matter to be tried in a court of law, but that it should have been an internal departmental matter. (Read more...)

CTP axe 'corrupt' employees

The Cape Town Partnership (CTP) has fired two employees after they confessed to defrauding the organisation of thousands of rands.

They were caught out after the CTP ordered a forensic probe into irregularities connected to services provided at Central City Improvement District (CCID) events. (Read more...)

Secretary turns state witness in fraud case

The Cape High Court has withdrawn fraud and tax charges against the former secretary of well known city businessman Gary van der Merwe after she turned state witness.

Now Karin Hoge is expected to testify against Van der Merwe as well as Paul Kilian and Tyrone Oates - the directors of his companies World Online Limited (WOL) and Wealth International Network (WIN). (Read more...)

Workshop probe: firm denies eight digit cost

Pasco Risk Management's investigation into the Ekurhuleni workshops did not cost R12,3-million as claimed by the Democratic Alliance.

In a seven-page response to the allegations, Pasco denies the eight-digit cost and notes that the claims could be a result of an attempt by guilty parties to discredit the investigation. (Read more...)

Mbeki in bid to gag Pikoli

The presidency has launched an 11th-hour bid to prevent embarrassing confidential information behind the suspension of Vusi Pikoli, the national prosecuting authority boss, from being made public.

Sources have told The Sunday Independent that hours before the suspended Pikoli was due to release documents detailing what he told President Thabo Mbeki and other high-ranking officials about Jackie Selebi's alleged corruption, he received a settlement offer from the government. (Read more...)

Selebi 'linked to fugitive'

Did French fugitive from justice Jean-Claude Lacote have evidence implicating police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi and other police officials in crime?

Two related sources who had dealings with Lacote claim he had documents indicating a corrupt relationship between him and Selebi. (Read more...)

State fears fraud trial witnesses may die

The State this week turned to the Pretoria high court to compel businessman David King not to delay his forthcoming criminal trial on July 28 by asking for a postponement.

One of the State witnesses has already died.

Two others are in their 70s and it is feared that they might die before the trial is completed. (Read more...)

5 arrested for fraud

An anti-fraud operation led to the arrest of five people and R1m worth of assets being seized in Mamelodi, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Friday.

Spokesperson Tlali Tlali said the arrests on Thursday follow an investigation of multiple fraudulent transactions in the accounting and payment systems of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). (Read more...)

Teazers' hot shot in the hot seat again

Teazers' owner Lolly Jackson has been arrested for the second time this month - this time for fraud.

A police spokesperson said Jackson was arrested on Friday and was being questioned at Germiston police station in connection with a fraud case.

According to Primedia's Eyewitness News, Jackson was being questioned about falsifying visas for the eastern European strippers he employs. He may also be charged for holding the women against their will. Eleven of the exotic dancers from Russia and Ukraine have also been taken in for questioning. (Read more...)

Councillors in dodgy land deal

ANC and opposition councillors of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality stand to gain handsomely from a controversial land deal, which may have robbed the municipality of millions of rands.

The Mail & Guardian has also established that two of the stands in the Meyersdal Nature Estate were bought and then sold by Gauteng local government minister Dorothy Mahlangu. According to forensic investigators, the development was pushed through "irregularly". (Read more...)

Third Fidentia accused named

A third accused will join Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown and Piet Bothma, the suspended CE of the Transport Education Training Authority (Teta), in the dock on fraud and money-laundering charges relating to the collapse of Fidentia — and charges against more people could follow. (Read more...)

Basketball SA chiefs accused of embezzlement

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) will this weekend probe allegations of financial mismanagement at Basketball South Africa (BSA).

The probe follows a litany of complaints by Gauteng basketball officials, who have accused the national federation's president, Vusi Mgobhozi, and treasurer Eric Nkosi of turning BSA into their personal bank account. (Read more...)

McBride signed off R12m to firm - invoices

The codename "Lusaka" was used by Robert McBride and a risk management company for work which ended up costing the Ekurhuleni metro more than R12,3-million.

This escalated from R100 000 approved for a forensic investigation into "irregularities" at the municipal mechanical workshop. (Read more...)

Promises, lies enrage villagers

For years, platinum mines paid millions of rands to the village of Photsaneng for the right to mine their land.

The money was paid into the Fike Trust, the name of the original farm. But now the community is trying to trace what happened to those funds over a 14-year-period.

They are also preparing to take to court one of the trustees, Ben Huma, who they accuse of stealing millions of rands. (Read more...)

SA to reel in Fidentia mastermind

One of the alleged masterminds in the Fidentia scandal, Steven William Goodwin's, bid to avoid arrest in the United States has failed, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Tlali Tlali said Goodwin, who was arrested in the US upon arrival from Australia due to an Interpol alert, approached an American court in Los Angeles on April 18 to have his arrest set aside and alternatively to apply for bail. (Read more...)

Department probed for tender fraud

The standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) is investigating claims that officials of the Department of Agriculture were awarding contracts to their own companies. (Read more...)

Time up for credit fraud gang

Police have arrested a manager of a V&A Waterfront coffee shop and lifted the lid on a sophisticated credit card skimming operation.

According to police spokesperson Billy Jones, the manager was identified following a preliminary probe with forensic investigators from several banks. (Read more...)

Mystery disappearance of money from accounts

A number of Standard Bank clients have laid fraud charges after their money allegedly disappeared from their accounts while they were in possession of their bank cards.

At least six people opened cases at the Bushbuckridge police station in Mpumalanga after discovering that their money had been withdrawn without their knowledge. (Read more...)

PwC to respond to R&E claim over Kebble cash

RANDGOLD & Exploration, one of the companies headed by the late Brett Kebble, has served a summons on accountancy firm Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (PwC), R&E spokesman Brian Gibson said yesterday. (Read more...)

Fraudsters get busy

Criminals are finding new and innovative ways to defraud businesses and high-value individuals, says the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric).

Sabric commercial crime head Susan Potgieter says fraudsters are tweaking a long-running deposit and refund scam to “suit the economic cycle and current events”. She says victims are carefully selected businesses, or high-value individuals. (Read more...)

Ekurhuleni mum on workshop report

A report over alleged fraud and corruption at Ekurhuleni workshops is to be discussed at a council meeting in May, a mayoral spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"We have no comment in that regard other than that the report will be presented to council in mid-May," said Prince Hamca.

This follows Talk Radio 702's report on Wednesday that mechanics had cost the municipality over R60-million over several years. (Read more...)

Identity theft-related fraud rising

Identity theft-related fraud cost SA businesses R276-million in the first three months of 2008, according to Alexander Forbes Insurance.

On Tuesday, managing director Gari Dombo said this was a "substantial increase" on the 2007 figures released by the SA Fraud Prevention Services. (Read more...)

443 government fraudsters keep jobs

More than 400 public servants have escaped criminal prosecution and retained their jobs by owning up to housing subsidy fraud and agreeing to repay the government. (Read more...)

SANDF clerk pleads guilty to fraud

A senior SANDF administration clerk yesterday pleaded guilty to 251 charges of defrauding her employer.

Zelda Wolmarans, of Clubview, admitted in the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court that she had helped herself to more than R1,1-million over several years until her arrest in April 2006. (Read more...)

Watch out for 'auditor from Sars'

He possesses the perfect con-artist attributes: he is well spoken and well dressed, drives a smart car and is incredibly knowledgeable on auditing and tax laws.

He is a clever predator who preys on small business owners, especially those guilty of not declaring their taxes in full.

He flashes his South African Revenue Services (Sars) identity badge, shuffles around documents typed on an official Sars letterhead, stamped with an official looking Sars stamp, informs you that you owe tens of thousands in back taxes, that you are currently under an A/A audit and instructs you to report to the Internal investigations audit section offices the following morning. (Read more...)

DA calls for city manager's suspension

The Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni has called for the immediate suspension of the city manager, as well as for an investigation into a R12-million payment to a risk management company. (Read more...)

Public servants face fraud rap

Thousands of public servants face prosecution for fraudulently acquiring houses meant for the poor, the department of housing said on Tuesday.

Spokesman Xolani Xundu said about 31 000 civil servants were under investigation by the special investigations unit for possibly using fraudulent and corrupt means to acquire low cost housing. (Read more...)

Dozy council wakes up to land scam

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) may have lost more than R93-million in a dodgy land development deal.

This startling allegation is made by metro manager Patrick Flusk in an affidavit submitted to the Pretoria High Court this week, in an application by the developer of an upmarket East Rand property development. (Read more...)

Calls for premier to sack health MEC

Opposition parties in KwaZulu-Natal have made an urgent call on Premier S’bu Ndebele, pictured, to suspend health MEC Neliswa Nkonyeni.

The embattled department is the subject of a Scorpions investigation after alleged mismanagement, fraud and corruption in which certain senior staff members, including former head Busi Nyembezi, who has resigned, had been involved. (Read more...)

Nigeria: Experts Brainstorm to Forestall Cheque Fraud (Nigeria)

Security printing experts have called for constant review and modification of regulations guiding the printing of cheques, making the use of indelible ink printing of control numbers mandatory and regular training of bank staff as some of the ways to prevent fraud on cheques and other security documents. (Read more...)

Corrupt medical supply bosses to talk

Two medical supply company bosses, who admitted bribing officials at KwaZulu-Natal hospitals to secure millions of rands worth of business, will have to pay the health department R850 000 and R1-million if they are to avoid going to jail for 10 years each.

Collectively, through their various companies, they admitted to receiving contracts valued at R18-million over two years through the payment of about R600 000 in "kick-backs" to hospital officials. (Read more...)

Tanzanian minister quits over bribery claims

DAR ES SALAAM - Tanzania lost its fourth minister this year on graft charges when Andrew Chenge resigned amid allegations that he took bribes, a statement said on Sunday.

"Chenge has written to the president asking for resignation and the president has accepted," said a statement issued by Communications Director Salva Rweyermamu. (Read more...)

Civil corruption climbs hotline chart

Cases of corruption in the public sector reported to the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH) increased by 46 percent between 2004 and 2007, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.

SA spokesperson on the public service, Karel Minnie, said this was according to a 2008 report released by the Public Service Commission (PSC) which focused on a mid-term review of the public service. (Read more...)

Obasanjo's daughter 'on the run'

Lagos - Nigerian senators are worried about the disappearance of the daughter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is facing corruption charges, a senior lawmaker said on Friday. (Read more...)

NPA to prosecute Zuma despite Mauritian case

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will go ahead with its corruption trial against ANC President Jacob Zuma, irrespective of Zuma's Mauritian legal battle. (Read more...)

Sierra Leone police detain ex-ombudsman for graft

FREETOWN (Reuters) - Police in Sierra Leone have detained a former government ombudsman on corruption charges, authorities said on Friday, in the first high-level arrest since a new government took office last year pledging to tackle graft. (Read more...)

Zuma's Mauritius case postponed

The case against the president of the African National Congress (ANC) in Mauritius has been postponed, the SABC reported on Friday.

The case has been postponed to May 7. (Read more...)

Fraud flies in Q1 2008

Business lost R276 million to identity theft-related fraud in the first three months of this year and indications are the amount will climb steeply this year. (Read more...)

How did this happen?

The correctional services department and the police are investigating the escape of a French national from a Johannesburg prison.

In a statement issued on Friday, correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said the department and police were investigating the release of Jean Claude Lacote.

He had been awaiting trial for fraud. (Read more...)

'No problem in giving husband's firm tenders'

The director of a company that was awarded millions of rands in tenders by the KwaZulu-Natal health department said on Thursday that she saw no conflict of interest in that the husband of the former head of the department was a shareholder in the company. (Read more...)

13 ‘corrupt’ cops will still face law

The 13 reserve police constables who were arrested on charges of corruption after allegedly helping 26 Mozambican immigrants return to South Africa minutes after being deported will still face the law despite having been freed in court. (Read more...)

Revealing secrets

The absence of a comprehensive statutory framework to protect sensitive information has resulted in a lack of clarity and secrecy by default.

This approach is inconsistent with South Africa’s new constitutional order. The Protection of Information Bill aims to replace the presumption of secrecy with a presumption of openness. (Read more...)

Exit packages 'were above board'

Finance MEC Zweli Mkhize has defended the exit packages given to department heads saying it was in line with the Public Service Act.

He said suggestions that the government was hiding information was tantamount to politicking.

Mkhize was responding to ongoing complaints and accusations from opposition parties that the government was not doing much to contain the flurry of exits by directors-general who left their departments under clouds of suspicion. (Read more...)

Labour Department warns of scam

The Department of Labour has warned employers of domestic workers to be on the lookout for fraudsters.

Employers have been defrauded by "relatives" claiming money for burials for "dead" employees, according to the department. (Read more...)

State wants another two weeks

President Thabo Mbeki, Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla and Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula will miss Wednesday's deadline to respond to a Joburg businessman's court bid to save the Scorpions.

But, in a surprise move, legal representatives for the president and his ministers admitted the case brought by Hugh Glenister is "one that is of national importance". (Read more...)

NPA stands up for Scorpions

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has defended the Scorpions after the ANC accused the crime fighting unit of sheltering former apartheid security police intent on destroying the ruling party. (Read more...)

McBride documents stolen from court

Documents relating to Robert McBride were among those stolen recently from the Johannesburg High Court, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said today.

But these papers were not directly linked to the drunk driving case of the Ekurhuleni metro police chief, the NPA said in a statement. (Read more...)

Health officials in R1m theft rap

Seven people from the Mpumalanga department of health and social services have been suspended for alleged fraud and corruption, the department said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Mpho Gabashane said more than R1-million could have been stolen since 2006 by the seven officials implicated. (Read more...)

Health officials 'to be arrested'

The fraud-busting Scorpions are reportedly set to pounce on "highly placed persons" in the office of health MEC Peggy Nkonyeni, in connection with the procurement of an ultrasound scanner, whose price was allegedly inflated from R400 000 to R1,5-million. (Read more...)

Liberty employee arrested

A Liberty Life employee was arrested and appeared in the Durban Commercial Crimes court on charges of fraud on Tuesday, police said. (Read more...)

Controversial promoter is charged with fraud

Controversial concert promoter Duncan Heafield has been arrested for fraud. He appeared in a KwaZulu-Natal court yesterday.

His reputation took a knock because of two recent fiascos involving international stars who were clients of his company, Kusasa Entertainment.

US singer Josh Groban’s South African tour had to be postponed and chaos marred singer Celine Dion’s recent concerts. (Read more...)

DA, ANC can't agree on Scorpions

The African National Congress on Tuesday accused the Scorpions of being a political unit made up of apartheid security branch members which treated the party like the "enemy".

"We have built a political unit and we don't need that," said ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe. (Read more...)

Lying ex-prosecutor is jailed for 30 months for stealing R340

A BUFFALO City Municipality legal adviser and former Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court prosecutor has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for stealing R340.

Theresa Matika, 35, was sentenced in the East London Regional Court on Friday after being found guilty of two counts of fraud committed against the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court and the Department of Justice on June 29, 2004. (Read more...)

Fidentia's Goodwin stays jailed while judge weighs extradition

Steven Goodwin, who South African prosecutors claim is a mastermind behind the collapse of money manager Fidentia Asset Management, will remain in jail in the US while a judge weighs whether he can be extradited. (Read more...)

Robbers raid Jo'burg court, steal sensitive documents

Armed robbers raided the Johannesburg High Court and carted away documents, including those dealing with high-profile organised crimes, a senior court official said on Monday. (Read more...)

Schoeman falls victim to scam

SA Olympic swimmer Roland Schoeman lost more than R40,000 in sponsorship money in a travel agency scam, Jacaranda radio said today. (Read more...)

Corruption is a crime and does not deserve amnesty

Patricia De Lille says those involved in arms deal corruption cannot be pardoned, but should instead be subjected to the full force of the law.

In the last few weeks there has been a campaign to garner support for the idea of an amnesty for those involved in arms deal corruption. (Read more...)

Lucky Moloi and three others on fraud charges

Lucky Moloi, former president of the KwaZulu-Natal Chamber of Business, two Mgungundlovu district municipality councillors and a property agent, Neville Watts, were arrested on Friday on charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

Moloi is the president of one of the two parallel structures of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) in the province, and also a former councillor of Mgungundlovu district municipality. (Read more...)

Disgraced diamond boss’s posh SA refuge

A retired diamond mining executive facing a massive corruption trial in Botswana is quietly living in luxury at a beachfront mansion in South Africa.

Louis Nchindo, ex-managing director of the Debswana Diamond Company, once counted former Botswana President Festus Mogae as his close friend. (Read more...)

Land Bank fraud witnesses living in fear

A key whistle-blower in the R1-billion Land Bank corruption saga has been left penniless after being kicked out of the country’s witness protection programme. (Read more...)

Cops steal 'evidence'

Johannesburg - Two metro police officer were arrested in Mayfair on Saturday after confiscating property and cash under the pretence it was to be used in an investigation, Johannesburg metro police said.

"The officers, aged 32 and 33, went into a man's flat in the CBD and confiscated six laptops he was repairing and R2 200. (Read more...)

Hunt on for used car salesman

A used car salesman facing 16 charges related to theft, motor vehicle theft and fraud in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage is believed to be hiding out in Joburg.

Dougie Rule, 51, allegedly swindled customers out of cars and cash totalling R500 000. (Read more...)

Trial date set down for bribery case

A trial date for the bribery and corruption case against a senior member of the eThekwini metro police department was set down for May at the Durban regional court on Friday.

Meganathan "Dees" Govender - who was the police's public relations officer - appeared briefly in court and was told to return on May 8 for trial and that his bail would be extended. (Read more...)

Nigeria fines Cadbury unit for false accounting (Nigeria)

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has imposed a fine of 21.2 million naira on Cadbury Schweppes's local Nigerian unit for falsifying its accounts between 2002 and 2005. (Read more...)

Heads to roll over KZN financial mismanagement

KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Zweli Mkhize says all board members of financial agency Ithala - who dealt with the excessive remuneration of its former CEO Sipho Nyembezi - have been asked to resign.

This follows a forensic audit into alleged irregularities running into millions of rands. Nyembezi's salary last year was R3.2 million. Mkhize says the amounts paid to the CEO in the past three years were inappropriate for an organisation the size and nature of Ithala. (Read more...)

Outshoorn under the microscope

WESTERN Cape auditor- general Terence Nombembe has slammed the Oudtshoorn municipality over several incidents of fraud and financial mismanagement. (Read more...)

'Wasteful expenditure' linked to McBride

Documents have surfaced showing that a risk-management company, with alleged links to Ekurhuleni Metro Police Chief Robert McBride, was allegedly paid more than R12-million in what has been described as "fruitless and wasteful expenditure". (Read more...)

Scorpions lose Selebi sting

The state's case against police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi could be a major casualty of the African National Congress's (ANC) drive to shut down the Scorpions.

The Mail & Guardian has established that seven of the eight investigators working on the Selebi case have already resigned or are in the process of leaving the unit. (Read more...)

Opposition parties, ANC lock horns over Scorpions (SA)

The leaders of three opposition parties today in Pretoria told ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member Siphiwe Nyanda that his party is in a hurry to disband the Scorpions in order to prevent them from investigating criminal elements within the ANC.

In a debate organised by the Institute for Security Studies, where the future of the Scorpions was discussed, all parties agreed that the June deadline set by the ANC during its December conference in Polokwane is not feasible. (Read more...)

Botswana: Judgement On Attorneys' Fraud Case Postponed (Botswana)

Judgement has been postponed again in the case in which attorneys Tiro Mothusi and Herbert Sikhakhane are accused of obtaining money by false pretences. (Read more...)

Kenyan tycoon hands over hotel in graft case (Africa)

NAIROBI (Reuters) - A Kenyan tycoon accused of being the architect of a corruption scandal that nearly ruined east Africa's biggest economy handed the government a hotel on Wednesday that he had battled for 15 years to keep. (Read more...)

Is it OK to mix with criminals?

It wasn't "criminal" for a senior Kensington police officer to rub shoulders with former Americans gang boss Igshaan Davids, also known as "Sanie American" the Cape Town regional court was told.

A police investigator was giving evidence during the corruption trial of Inspector Sydney Simpson. (Read more...)

Barry Sergeant: Investigations editor, Moneyweb

Interview with regard to Fidentia

MONEYWEB: One of the Fidentia masterminds, Steven Goodwin, was arrested over the weekend in Los Angeles after a tip-off by the National Prosecuting Authority. One of the journalists who was way ahead of the story was our investigations editor, Barry Sergeant. He joins us now. Barry, who is this Steve Goodwin? (Read more or listen to interview)

Scorpions probe KZN health department

KwaZulu-Natal’s health department is being investigated by the Scorpions, a spokesman said today.

Scorpions spokesman Tlali Tlali confirmed that the department was the subject of a Scorpions investigation and that the offices of Dr. Busi Nyembezi - the suspended head of department - had been raided on Friday afternoon, during which a mammogram was seized. (Read more...)

Employees plead guilty to welfare fraud

Eighteen government employees have pleaded guilty to fraud at the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court this morning. The charge relates to fraudulent welfare grant applications. (Read more...)

Directors to answer to fraud

The owners of two Durban-based companies - a medical research laboratory and an office equipment supplier - have been implicated in an alleged scam in which the Ithala Development Finance Corporation was defrauded of about R1,5-million. (Read more...)

DA queries high cost of scanner

The Democratic Alliance has called on the KwaZulu-Natal minister of health to explain the "inflated" costs of a cancer-scanning machine that the Scorpions are focusing their investigation on.

The DA had asked questions months ago on the procurement of a R1.5-million ultrasound machine.

The machine costs around R300 000 to R425 000, but the department paid more than a million for it. (Read more...)

Malawi jails former minister for corruption

A court in Malawi handed down a six-year prison sentence on Tuesday to a former minister over corruption charges dating back 14 years, officials said. (Read more...)

State slow in checking qualifications

Three years after efforts began to verify public servants' qualifications, employees are resisting the process and government departments are dragging their feet about getting it done, a report tabled in Parliament this week found. (Read more...)

Former presidents' daughter in 'hot water'

Lagos - Nigeria's government filed graft charges on Tuesday against the daughter of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo and two ministers sacked in March, a news agency reported. (Read more...)

Longest trial in SA legal history ends

After being on trial for 14 years, of which he spent the first six in jail, Dries Human on Monday left the Pretoria regional court a free man. (Read more...)

FBI nabs Fidentia 'mastermind'

One of the alleged masterminds in the Fidentia scandal was arrested and detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Tlali Tlali said Steven William Goodwin was arrested after a request by the Scorpions. (Read more...)

E Cape govt officials arrested for fraud

Eastern Cape police have arrested nearly 100 government officials for allegedly defrauding the Social Development Department of millions of rands. (Read more...)

FSB intervenes in funeral policy ‘scam’

The owner of the embattled Madadeni Funeral Association (MFA) has denied allegations that his company is involved in a funeral policy scam affecting thousands of pensioners in Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The fracas has prompted the Financial Services Board (FSB) to intervene. (Read more...)

Lesedi programmes manager faces DC

The disciplinary case against suspended Lesedi FM programmes manager Mohlalefi Khoali will start in Bloemfontein this morning. (Read more...)

Pastor's son 'used faked ID'

Nelspruit - A pastor's son is accused of defrauding a car dealership, a furniture shop, an estate agent and a filling station by using a false identity two years ago. (Read more...)

‘Money for orphans taken’

A former community liaison officer for a home-based care centre briefly appeared in court on Friday on fraud and corruption charges of more than R135000. (Read more...)

Ex-task team members up for graft, theft

Three police reservists have appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on corruption and theft charges on Monday, Free State police said.

The three, all in their mid-thirties, are former members of the provincial task team dealing with theft of vehicles in the Free State. (Read more...)

Manuel moves for permanent interdict

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has moved to secure a permanent interdict against Terry Crawford-Browne, the arms deal activist who has widely published allegations about Manuel's involvement in the controversial arms deal. (Read more...)

Better corporate security starts with personal habits

Mirroring the continued rapid development of ICT is the ever-present reality of the risks presented by the dependence of society - and business - on the products of this industry. But while the nature of technology lends itself to compromise, an effective security posture depends on awareness of the risks and appropriate behaviour to prevent threats becoming a reality. (Read more...)

KZN public servants linked to RDP scam

Close to 1 000 KwaZulu-Natal public servants will be hauled before court to explain how they fraudulently obtained reconstruction and development programme (RDP) houses meant for the poor. (Read more...)

Case against Scorpions head postponed

The former Scorpions head of Operations, Geoffrey Ledwaba's case of fraud and theft has been postponed once again in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court. (Read more...)

Absa offers free security software

Retail bank Absa is offering clients free PC-cillin security software, valued at between R400 and R600, to help ensure safe online banking. (Read more...)

R70000 bursary money Swindle

Two well-off directors of a troubled rural university have been suspended on full pay after it was found that they had channelled bursary money to their own children.

The University of Venda’ s acting director of public relations, Rufus Kharidzha, and the director of finance and planning, Tendani Ramulongo, were suspended on Friday for fraud and corruption. (Read more...)

EC businessman caught in Sars trap

A PORT Elizabeth businessman was arrested yesterday and will now face corruption charges in the Mthatha magistrate’s court on Monday for allegedly trying to bribe two SA Revenue Service (Sars) officials with R1 million.

The man, whose name is known to the Daily Dispatch, was transferred to Mthatha yesterday after the police and Sars officials had searched his business and two residential premises. (Read more...)

On German kickbacks and the corvette contract (SA)

The Office of the Public Prosecutor in Dusseldorf, Germany, is currently investigating various members of the German Frigate Consortium (GFC) for fraud, corruption, and tax evasion. These relate to the contract the consortium won to supply the South African navy with four Meko A200 corvettes in 1998/1999.

The German investigators claimed in a letter for assistance to Swiss authorities last year that the consortium had "paid considerable bribes to achieve the conclusion of the agreement." A total of $25m was paid out in kickbacks by Thyssen Rheinstahl Technik GmbH. $22m of this was paid to a letterbox company in Liberia called Mallar Inc., most of which "directly flowed to South African officials and members of cabinet." Another $3m, the investigators allege, was paid to the former chief of arms acquisition, Shamin "Chippy" Shaik, through another letterbox company, Merian Ltd in London. (Read more...)

SA losing trust in public institutions

South Africans have lost trust in virtually all major public institutions — except churches — because of political scandal, greed, crime and poverty.

Scandals that have eroded public trust include, among others, the arms deal, bribery and corruption allegations against ANC president Jacob Zuma and alleged criminal misconduct implicating Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

An annual Human Sciences Research Council’s survey on public attitudes has found that trust in national government and Parliament dropped by 20% between 2004 and last year and trust in political parties dropped by 16%. (Read more...)

New smart ID cards to be rolled out soon

A pilot project on a smart-card identity system, which will replace the current green ID books, is to be rolled out before the end of the year. (Read more...)

Mpshe won't oppose 'save the Scorpions' case

Acting National Prosecuting Authority boss Mokotedi Mpshe and Scorpions head Leonard McCarthy will not oppose an application by a Johannesburg businessman to stop the Scorpions from being closed down. (Read more...)

SA forks out for high crime rate

South Africans are picking up a monumental tab for the state's apparent or perceived failure to protect them from crime but individuals may not claim tax relief for these expenses.

According to a recent estimate by the SA Institute for Race Relations (SAIRR), South Africans spent a whopping R40-billion on private security in 2007.

This is only slightly less than the R42-billion the government has budgeted for the entire SA Police Service this year and almost double the amount it plans to spend on both prisons (R12-billion) and the courts (R10-billion) in 2008. (Read more...)

Ancestors co-opted in fraud scheme

Several people have been defrauded of R88 000 by "bogus herbalists" who claimed the ancestors would help them make millions, according to Pretoria police. (Read more...)

What Ginwala doesn't want you to know...

South Africa will never know what suspended prosecuting boss Vusi Pikoli told President Thabo Mbeki about allegations of corruption against National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

Nor will the country's media and citizens be allowed access to documents showing which government officials sought Pikoli's axing, and why - should the Ginwala Commission have its way. (Read more...)

KwaZulu-Natal anti-graft structures reveal ‘huge gaps’

CAPE TOWN — There were huge gaps in the anticorruption structures of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial administration, a study by the Public Service Commission (PSC) tabled in Parliament yesterday revealed. (Read more...)

Con artists operating a bank bag scam

THE Police are urging the public to be on the lookout for a group of confidence tricksters who perform an elaborate scam to trick people out of their money.

The group, consisting of 3 to 4 males, believed to be black in complexion, will throw a plastic bank bag on the ground as soon as they spot their victim. The victim will instinctively bend down and pick the bag up. As soon as this happens the group will confront the victim and tell him/her that they work for the police. They further tell their victim that they are investigating a fraud case and that they believe that their victim is the “suspect” they are seeking. The next step is to demand the bank-bag and all other monies on the victims person. Should the victim not have any money, they will accompany him/her to the bank to draw all their funds. The reason – to compare fingerprints from the money in the bank bag and the personal money of the victim! (Read more...)

Thousands of civil servants caught seizing RDP homes

More than 7 000 civil servants have acquired RDP houses illegally, according to the Department of Housing.

Simphiwe Damane-Mkhosana, head of an anti-corruption unit in the department, said yesterday: "We have 7 363 pending cases of fraudulently acquired RDP houses throughout the country by government officials. (Read more...)

Namibia: 269 Charges in Pension Fraud Case

THE extent of the charges being faced by eight people who are accused of having been involved in an allegedly illegal loan scheme orchestrated by now former employees of pension fund administrators Alexander Forbes Financial Services have been revealed in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court for the first time. (Read more...)

MEC wants probe after docket disappears

A Mpumalanga public prosecutor might find himself in hot water for alleged corruption.

This follows a call by safety and security MEC Fish Mahlalela for an urgent investigation into the withdrawal of charges against 13 reserve policemen accused of corruption. (Read more...)

An arms deal TRC would be a compromise too far

VARIOUS divergent voices have recently called for a truth commission-style process to deal with the arms deal and those implicated of criminality and corruption in it. The idea has a decidedly old ring about it; nevertheless, it should sound an alarm bell to those concerned about justice and that constantly undermined, yet increasingly relevant, concept of accountability. (Read more...)

Date set for bribery trial

A Provisional date has been set down for the trial of a senior member of the eThekwini metro police accused of bribery and corruption. (Read more...)

Health ex-boss on 18 graft raps

Nelspruit - The former head of the Mpumalanga Health Department, Riena Charles, appeared in Nelspruit Regional Court on Wednesday where she is on trial for 18 fraud and corruption charges.

She appeared with co-accused Percy Siboza who owns KaMagobeni Holdings and whom the State claims is Charles's brother-in-law. (Read more...)

Legal battle for Scorpions heats up

PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki and the ministers of safety and security and of justice have indicated their intention to oppose an application by a Johannesburg businessman who is seeking to prevent the government from enacting legislation to dissolve the Scorpions ahead of its incorporation into the police. (Read more...)

SARS implements R136m scanner deal

The SA Revenue Service (SARS) has spent R136 million on 18 scanners that can verify the contents of shipping containers without having to open them.

These scanners are expected to speed up the clearance of containers through SA's congested ports. (Read more...)

Gauteng cops: Let the seller beware

Police have warned people in Gauteng who sell goods through advertising publications to meet their prospective buyers at police stations because robbers and fraud convicts have been targeting advertisers. (Read more...)

Beware of the power scam

Beware of criminals who may take advantage of the country's power crisis.

It is vital to always check the identity of a person who knocks at your door. Do not let them in unless they can provide you with positive identification.

This is the warning circulating via email stating that a syndicate claiming to be from the "electricity department" is currently in operation. (Read more...)

PI's arrest 'was political'

Mossel Bay - The lawyer for private investigator Niel van Heerden has told the magistrate's court here that his client's arrest last year was politically motivated, the SABC reported on Monday. (Read more...)

No pardon for Zambia’s ex-president

ZAMBIA’S President Levy Mwanawasa will not pardon his corruption-tainted predecessor despite numerous requests.

Mwanawasa said he will allow due process of the law to take its course in various cases involving former president Frederick Chiluba, 65, accused of stealing millions of dollars in state funds during his 10-year tenure. (Read more...)

Whistle blown on Hospersa deals

Police were tipped off more than two years ago about the alleged mismanagement of R14-million of health sector union Hospersa’s funds.

But no arrests have been made because no charges have been laid against the alleged offenders.

The Times has learnt that police were tipped off in December 2005 that Hospersa president Gavin Moultrie and other executive members of the union allegedly “misappropriated funds to a great extent and kept large amounts for their own personal financial gain”. (Read more...)

Cut blacks out R30m graft case

Nelspruit - A R30m fraud-and-corruption case against former Mpumalanga director-general advocate Stanley Soko was postponed in Nelspruit Regional Court on Tuesday because of load shedding. (Read more...)

State postpones trial of Neil van Heerden

The State has requested a postponement in the fraud and perjury trial of a private investigator, Neil van Heerden, in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court in the Southern Cape. (Read more...)

Cameroon arrests two former ministers for graft

YAOUNDE, March 31 (Reuters) - Cameroon arrested former economy and finance minister Polycarpe Abah Abah and former public health minister Urbain Olanguena Awono on Monday on allegations of fraud, corruption and embezzling public funds. (Read more...)