Saratoga County, NY (WRGB) — A woman has been sentenced to up to 9 years in state prison for her role in a financial scheme that resulted in more than $1 million being stolen from a local institution, according to the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office.
Kirsten Zubini was sentenced to 3 to 9 years in state prison after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
Officials said Zubini and her affiliates contacted a local institution while it was undergoing a large-scale construction project and falsely represented themselves as being associated with the company performing the construction work.
Zubini then fraudulently directed the institution to send payment for construction services to a bank account she controlled, according to the district attorney’s office.
Officials said more than $1 million was stolen through the scheme.
After discovering the…
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