Fourteen suspects, including two former Nedbank employees, Nicolette de Villiers and Keitumetse Mathimbi, made their first appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court.
The suspects, between the ages 25 and 47, appeared in court on Wednesday after they were arrested on Tuesday in different parts of Gauteng for fraud to the tune of R157 million.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said they have been charged with 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,” Mogale said in a statement.
Mogale said the amounts were between R50,000 and R20 million.
“The recipients involved are 23 including 15 individuals, seven entities and six banks,” she added.
The accused are:
1. Samantha Lee, 40, was released on R10,000 bail
2. Jacobus Nel, 39, was released on R5,000 bail
3. Miquite Nel, 39, was released on R5,000 bail
4. Dillin Hoffman, 33, was released on R15,000 bail
5. Jacobus Joubert, 29, was released on R5,000 bail
6. Nicollette de Villiers, 38, was released on R20,000 bail
7. Michelle Buys, 36, was released on R5,000 bail
8. Mariska O'Connor, 41, was released on R10,000 bail
9. Andy O'Connor, 47, was released on R10,000 bail
10. Leane Botha, 25, was released on R2,000 bail
11. Christiaan Venter, 39, was released on R5,000 bail
12. Keitumetse Mathimbi, 39 , was released on R20,000 bail
13. Segametsi Songwana, 37, was released on R5,000 bail
Mogale said one of the suspects, Yu-Wei Fang, 51, was remanded in custody and his bail application will be heard in the same court on November 7, 2024.
The other 13 accused will make their next appearance on January 29, 2025.
Meanwhile, National head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General 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 and high value serious commercial crime that exhibits the elements of professional money laundering enablers,“ said Lebeya.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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