By BAKANG MOKOTO
FIVE suspects aged 37 and 45, who were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Unit, the Hawks for fraud, corruption and money laundering to the tune of R2.5 million are set to appear at the Orkney Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, while the sixth suspect is still under police guard at the hospital where he was arrested.
The Hawks spokesperson, Col Katlego Mogale said the probe emanates from the VBS mutual Bank scandal investigation, wherein investigators noticed suspicious transactions on the account of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Municipality.
“The probing allegedly revealed that between 2017 and 2019, money was allegedly continuously deposited from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Municipal accounts into the accounts of three municipality officials.
“One of the three officials who has since left the municipality would allegedly routinely make payments into the bank accounts of his wife and brother. He reportedly also routed more funds into an account belonging to a woman in Johannesburg allegedly under the guise of a tender that was awarded. The woman would subsequently send the money back to him,” Mogale said.
She said the six suspects were arrested simultaneously in Johannesburg, Vryburg, Orkney and Klerksdorp respectively on 24 May 2022.
Meanwhile, the National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya expressed his gratitude for a job well done to both the investigation and prosecution in ensuring that these suspects are brought before court.
“No efforts will be spared in ridding the country of corruption and related activities,” Lebeya said.
The Guardian 