Fourteen people have appeared in court on allegations of fraud and money laundering, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) said on Wednesday.
The 14 accused, including two former Nedbank employees, Nicolette de Villiers and Keitumetse Mathimbi, aged between 25 and 51 years were arrested on Tuesday in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni by the Gauteng Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks on allegations of fraud and money laundering.
“It is reported that the main suspect unlawfully made payments from suspense accounts valued at over R157 million which were further transferred … to recipients who were [not] entitled to receive such monies. The amounts were between R50 000 and R20 million. Twenty-three recipients are involved in the matter including 15 individuals, seven entities and six banks.”
The 14 made their first appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrates court on Wednesday.
The Hawks said 13 of the 14 were granted bail while accused number 10’s bail application will be heard on 7 November 2024 in the same court.
“Accused No 10, Yu-Wei Fang's bail application will be heard on the 7 November 2024 in the same court, he was remanded in custody. The other 13 accused will appear again on 29 January 2025,” said the Hawks.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya commended the concerted efforts by the investigation team, prosecutors and specialists to ensure speedy finalisation of the investigation and securing the attendance of the accused in court.
“This is one of the complex high value serious commercial crime[s] that exhibits the elements of professional money laundering enablers. Investigations are continuing,” said the Hawks.
Meanwhile, the Hawks said three suspects are expected to appear in court following the murder of an unknown man whose body was found severely beaten, stabbed and dumped in a veld in Boksburg, Gauteng.
The three suspects aged 42, 33 and 31 were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning in a multidisciplinary operation led by the Hawks Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS), Benoni Flying Squad, Secure Tech, Graphite Security, Blue Hawk Tactical, DOT Towing and Brakpan Crime Prevention.
“Two suspects were arrested in connection with a murder of an unknown man whose body was found severely beaten, stabbed and dumped in a veld in Boksburg North. Through information received, the pair was traced to Brakpan. The third suspect was arrested also in Brakpan after he was found with a replica firearm and live ammunition which were confiscated for further investigation.”
The team also recovered a baseball bat and a panga which are suspected to have been the weapons utilised in the murder.
Investigations in the matter are continuing. -SAnews.gov.za
