FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – County Judge Daniel Wong, speaking Friday as a candidate for reelection, called on Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner to resign following her federal indictment in a case involving alleged misuse of taxpayer-funded county payroll positions.
Federal authorities announced Thursday that Turner and two other people were indicted in connection with the alleged scheme. Wong said Turner faces charges including conspiracy, theft involving federal program funds and wire fraud. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Turner is presumed innocent unless found guilty.
“The seriousness of these allegations raises substantial concerns about public confidence in her office,” Wong said, while calling for Turner’s immediate resignation. He also urged county employees and residents with credible information about suspected corruption, misuse of public funds or abuse…
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