GAUTENG – Yesterday, three men aged between 24 and 47 appeared before the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court respectively for fraud, money laundering and perjury worth approximately R1.5 million after they were arrested by the Pretoria based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
It is alleged that in the beginning of 2018, Nnibi Kwena Matlou (24) allegedly opened a bank account and handed his bank card to a syndicate scamming potential entrepreneurs with online tender advertisements using fraudulent government letter heads.
The complainant alleged that he received a phone call from the Department of Health in Pretoria which needed to be supplied with 450 wheelchairs. Upon searching on the internet looking for a competitive price, the complainant alleged that he reached out to a legit look-like registered supplier, Maboa Medical Suppliers who forwarded him a quotation with banking details.
Further investigation revealed that the amount of R481 600 which was allegedly transferred by the complainant into the alleged supplier’s bank account for 440 wheelchairs which was successfully withdrawn in Polokwane in Limpopo. Wheelchairs were never delivered.
Matlou was arrested in Seshego and charged with fraud, money laundering and perjury on Wednesday, 24 March 2021. He appeared in the Seshego Regional Court the following day and released on warning. The matter was postponed to Friday, 26 March 2021 to the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court where the matter was later postponed to 03 May 2021 for legal representation and pre-trial.
Meanwhile Tshifhiwa Evans Serumula (29) and Richard Jjuuko (47) who were also arrested on Wednesday and Thursday in Louis Trichardt and Polokwane, respectively for fraud and money laundering involving over R943 000 worth of a tender scam were remanded in custody pending investigation.
Investigation disclosed that Serumula and Jjuuku allegedly lured the complainant to transfer money into different bank accounts also in April 2018. The complainant suffered a loss of over R943 000 for allegedly supplying low pressure acetylene cylinders, wayne sprinkle pumps, and drill bits to the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources as well as the Department of Water and Sanitation.
It is alleged that all products ordered from Cape Town based registered companies, Meco Engineering, Supreme Engineering and Eisen were not delivered.
Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court postponed their matter to 01 April 2021 for a formal bail application. Outstanding suspects are still sought and the investigation is continuing.