PORTLAND (WGME) — Maine’s three gubernatorial candidates sparred Tuesday night over allegations of Medicaid fraud in the state.
The Trump administration says it’s auditing MaineCare, looking into how the state handles funding to prevent fraud.
The audit comes as Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services says it’s investigating several credible allegations of MaineCare fraud, something state leaders say they were already doing without federal scrutiny.
The state has suspended payments to five providers based on those allegations.
Republican Bobby Charles said MaineCare fraud is a major problem in the state.
“The problem is enormous in MaineCare, it lets back up in time, the reason that we’re facing a lot of fraud, and it relates, again, to mismanagement, is that the Pingree/Mills team accepted Medicaid expansion without funding it. So you’ve got a whole bunch of…
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