The Chino Police Department on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect following an extensive investigation into an organized EBT fraud and ATM skimming operation.
According to the department, investigators with the Criminal Investigations Bureau recovered fraudulent EBT cards, ATM skimming devices, computers, cell phones, cash and hundreds of cards believed to have been used to encode stolen EBT and ATM information.
The investigation also determined that the suspect was an international fugitive from Eastern Europe who was wanted for organized crime and human and child trafficking offenses, police said.
Authorities said the investigation disrupted what they described as a sophisticated fraud operation targeting EBT recipients.
THE TUTUKA POWER STATION PROCUREMENT FRAUD (ESKOM)
Date: August 29, 2025 Perpetrator: Jessie Phindile Kubheka (Supplier Director)
Case Description: As part of the ongoing “cleaning up” of Eskom, Jessie Phindile Kubheka was sentenced to 12 years (with 5 years suspended) for defrauding the Tutuka Power Station. The case involved a sophisticated procurement syndicate that exploited Eskom’s emergency repair protocols. Kubheka’s company was contracted to deliver three high-specification containers for the power station. Only one container was ever delivered, and even that single unit failed to meet the required safety and technical specifications.
Despite the lack of delivery, Kubheka issued grossly inflated invoices, defrauding the utility of approximately R2.6 million. The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court ordered Kubheka to repay the full amount. This case is significant because it marks a shift in Eskom’s strategy toward “naming and shaming” suppliers and pursuing full asset recovery. It serves as a stark warning to contractors that the 2026 climate of “Zero Tolerance” for state-owned enterprise (SOE) fraud is backed by active judicial enforcement.
Link to Original: Eskom Official – Tutuka Fraud Sentencing