Women who processed ‘ghost’ maintenance claims, found guilty
Two Department of Justice court maintenance administration clerks have been found guilty of theft for processing ghost maintenance claims for their personal gain.
Patricia Nobantu Xaki, 58, and Victoria Noyolo, 54, were convicted and sentenced of several charges of theft in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court on 23 September 2021. The trial of a third suspect, Kholosa Qupha, 57, who did not plead guilty to the charge of theft will take place later this year.
Hawks spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said that the Department of Justice had filed a criminal complaint regarding the fraudulent activities conducted by its admin clerks at the Mthatha Magistrate Court.
“The employees created fraudulent maintenance ghost files for none existing people and made payment of maintenance to the value of R700 000 for their personal gain,” Mgolodela said.
“The matter was reported Mthatha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit for further investigation. After thorough investigation three clerks who were working at the maintenance section were subsequently arrested on 30 April 2021 and appeared the same day at Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court where they were released on warning,” he said.
The matter was remanded on several occasions.
On 23 September 2021 Xaki and Mtatambi pleaded guilty to the charges of theft. However, the third ghost maintenance claim suspect, Qupha, did not plead guilty as a result a separation of trials was implemented.
Xaki was sentenced to pay R6000 or undergo months imprisonment. In addition she was sentenced to five years imprisonment wholly suspended on condition that she does not commit theft during the period of suspension. Mtatambi was sentenced to pay R15 000 or to undergo six months imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that she did not commit theft during the period of suspension.
The case against Qupha was remanded to 30 November 2021 in a separation of trial.
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