DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — The head of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit said his team secured 37 fraud convictions and recovered $3.9 million during the previous fiscal year, but said more could be done.
The update came during the third meeting of the newly formed Iowa Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force.
Jeremy Ingram, director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, said Iowa’s nine-member unit is one of the smallest in the country, costing $1.3 million.
Director calls for more collaboration
Ingram said the state should be enforcing the Civil False Claims Act more to reduce Medicaid fraud. He said those cases could bring more money back to the state.
“It is imperative that the Iowa Medicaid fraud control unit, Iowa Medicaid, and managed care organizations continue to collaborate to increase and enhance fraud referrals, streamline the flow of fraud tips to…
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