Latest news with #MpumalangaSpecialisedCommercialCrimesCourt
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Mbombela business owner convicted of fraud
A 38-year-old woman has been sentenced to 36 months' imprisonment for fraud by the Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela on Tuesday, July 15. Philisiwe Miriam Pretty Lephoko, the sole director of Premax Trading 43 CC, was convicted under Section 276(1)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act. Her company was also fined R100 000, a fine wholly suspended for five years on condition that she is not convicted of fraud or theft during this period. According to the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) provincial spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, Lephoko submitted fraudulent Pay-As-You-Earn returns to the South African Revenue Service (Sars) in February 2019, resulting in an undue payment of R464 550.28 into the company's account. The fraud was uncovered during a Sars audit, leading to her arrest in 2023. ALSO READ: Secunda Regional Court sentences rapist to life for raping 8-year-old girl Nyuswa said Lephoko pleaded not guilty and claimed to be a victim of cybercrime. However, the court rejected this version. Advocates Ntwanano Singwane and Kutullo Nyakane presented oral and documentary evidence from Sars and the bank, detailing how Lephoko transferred R200 000 from the Premax account into her personal account. 'The court found the State's witnesses credible and reliable, and dismissed the accused's explanation as a theoretical defence with no substance,' said Nyuswa. ALSO READ: Two guests injured in road accident in Kruger National Park In sentencing, the court noted Lephoko showed no remorse and continued to shift blame despite overwhelming evidence. It also emphasised the prevalence of tax-related fraud and the need for a strong deterrent.
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- The Citizen
Former attorney convicted of stealing RAF payouts
A former attorney has been convicted on four counts of theft by the Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after defrauding clients of their Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims. According to the NPA, Mantladi Jo-Anne Mmela, committed the crimes when she was practising as a sole practitioner between June 2019 and March 2022. 'The accused lodged claims against the RAF on behalf of her clients, which were subsequently paid out. The money was paid by the RAF into the trust account of Mmela Incorporated Attorneys for the benefit of her clients, totalling an amount of over R4.1m. 'The incident came to light after one of the victims reported that Mmela failed to pay her. An investigation ensued and led to the arrest of the accused in 2022,' the NPA said in a statement. Mmela was subsequently granted bail. However, after absconding, she was re-arrested and remained in custody. 'During trial, the accused pleaded not guilty, and Senior State Advocate Henry Nxumalo presented evidence of the witnesses to prove the allegations levelled against her. The accused was convicted on four counts of theft, and the matter was postponed to August 21 for sentencing in the same court. 'The NPA welcomes the conviction as a significant step in the fight against the theft of trust monies by attorneys as breach of trust, more so the victims of motor vehicle accidents. The collaboration against fighting such crimes yielded positive results in this matter. 'The NPA remains committed to fighting financial crimes and ensuring that those who deprive claimants of their monies are prosecuted,' the NPA said. – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
