Latest news with #RegionalCourt
Euronews
2 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Key figure in Germany's largest tax fraud case avoids jail time
Kai-Uwe Steck, a key figure in a massive tax fraud scheme that plagued Germany until 2012, has been convicted for his role in the scandal. Steck, who has cooperated with the authorities in recent years, received a suspended jail sentence of one year and 10 months, far less than the three years and eight months demanded by the prosecution. The former lawyer was also ordered to repay €24 million, €11 million of which has already been returned. As a "central figure" in the fraud scheme Steck contributed to losses of more than €428 million to the German tax authorities, according to the presiding judge in the case at Bonn Regional Court. The 53-year-old was a tax lawyer who worked alongside Hanno Berger, the so-called "mastermind" of the scandal that became known in Germany as "Cum-Ex". Like Berger, Steck was accused of designing and implementing complex share transactions that allowed multiple parties to claim illegitimate tax refunds on dividend payments. Despite the significant role he played in the scandal between 2007 and 2011, Steck's cooperation with authorities and his role as a whistleblower in the case meant he avoided a stricter sentence. His former colleague Berger was convicted to eight years in prison in 2022. The "Cum-Ex" scandal — considered to be the biggest tax fraud case in German history — prompted an avalanche of lawsuits and cast a shadow on politicians, including former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz was accused of protecting a local bank — during his time as the mayor of Hamburg — that was found guilty of participating in the scheme. The former German leader has always denied any wrongdoing, with prosecutors deciding to drop the case against him due to insufficient evidence. German authorities have so far recovered approximately €3.4 billion through several convictions and court cases. However, tens of billions of euros are still missing. Other investigations into the remaining lost funds are ongoing. The British government has threatened legal action against Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to ensure that the £2.5 billion (€2.97bn) proceeds from his sale of Chelsea Football Club reach Ukrainian victims of Russia's all-out war, now in its fourth year. 'The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion," Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a joint statement on Tuesday. 'We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach an agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far,' they added. 'While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.' Abramovich, who has denied allegations that he is a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned in the wake of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The oil and gas tycoon sold Chelsea in May 2022 to a consortium led by US investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, after the British government allowed him to part with the club as long as he did not personally benefit from the deal. The £2.5bn net proceeds have been frozen ever since, but still legally belong to Abramovich. They cannot be moved without a licence from the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. Three years after Abramovich sold the London-based club, the UK government has threatened to sue him amid an ongoing dispute about how the money should be spent. While the British government insists that all the money must go to humanitarian causes in Ukraine, Abramovich has said it should be 'for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine', including people in Russia. Since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK has been one of Kyiv's closest allies. In January, London pledged to give it an extra £4.5bn (€5.34bn) in military support.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Teen jailed for the rape of a 12-year-old
A 16-year-old was jailed for 10 years for the rape of a 12-year-old girl when he appeared in the Madadeni Regional Court on May 8. He was give an additional five years for sexual assault and the court declared him unfit to possess a firearm. According to initial police reports, the incident occurred on August 6, 2023. 'The victim told her mother that the accused, who was known to her, had attacked and raped at by a nearby riverbank,' confirmed police. The victim's mother immediately reported the matter to the police. Sergeant T.P. Mdluli worked tirelessly to secure the the conviction and sentence. Lieutenant Colonel S.L. Chapi, Commander of the Newcastle Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, congratulated Sergeant Mdluli for her dedication and thorough investigation that ensured the accused's conviction. The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550). At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
27-05-2025
- The South African
Man gets 20 years for brutal attack on award-winning farmer
Court sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for violently targeting and seriously injuring a respected Free State farmer in a farm attack. The court ruled that the attacker had planned the assault and carried it out with extreme cruelty. The Regional Court sitting in Winnie Mandela (formerly Brandfort) sentenced Moeketsi Mphatlatsa, 35, following his conviction for his role in a 2020 farm attack on Ms Mimie Jacobs, a former Farmer of the Year and a prominent figure in her rural community. On the evening of 22 February 2020, Mphatlatsa and two accomplices broke into Jacobs' farmhouse. They kicked down her door, tied her hands and feet with wire, and stabbed her multiple times. During the ordeal, the attackers told her they knew she lived alone, showing they had deliberately planned the attack. Despite sustaining serious neurological injuries, Jacobs managed to free herself after the attackers fled. She then walked more than seven kilometres to a neighbouring farmhouse to seek help. Her determination to survive, prosecutors said, played a key role in bringing the attackers to justice. In his sentencing argument, Regional Court Prosecutor Puseletso Ali described the crime as 'merciless and orchestrated.' 'The attack was a deliberate and targeted act against a woman living alone on her farm, a place that should have been a sanctuary,' Ali said. 'Instead, she was terrorised, overpowered, and brutalised in her own home.' He stressed, 'Such crimes demand the strongest possible response from the courts.' The court convicted Mphatlatsa on three charges: housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery, kidnapping, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to 15 years for housebreaking and robbery, 5 years for kidnapping, and 10 years for assault. The court ordered the assault sentence to run concurrently with the robbery sentence, making his total effective prison term 20 years. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the court's ruling. Regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the sentence sends a strong message to those who target vulnerable people, especially in rural areas. Senokoatsane stated that 'violent, organised attacks like this threaten the safety and unity of rural communities. ' He added that the sentence shows the justice system will act firmly to protect the most vulnerable. 'The NPA remains committed to securing convictions and ensuring appropriate sentences are imposed,' he said. Meanwhile, investigations continue to identify and locate Mphatlatsa's two accomplices, who remain at large. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
25-05-2025
- The South African
Man arrested for kidnapping and raping minor in Western Cape
A Western Cape man was arrested after he kidnapped and raped a minor in George on Saturday, 24 May 2025. The 42-year-old suspect approached two girls walking along York Street near the George Cemetery. 'He convinced the two minors to accompany him to a nearby shop. They were taken to an open field near the R102, also known as Airport Road, where the ten-year-old girl was allegedly raped,' read the police statement. The other girl managed to escape and informed her family about the incident. Several community safety structures and local security companies began searching for the victim. The police said, 'The search took the team to Syferfontein near Pacaltsdorp in George, where the man was tracked down.' Police investigations led to a residence between the N2 and Airport Road, where they found the victim. She was taken to a medical facility for care. The suspect is currently in police custody and will appear in court once charged. A man was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping an 18-year-old girl in November 2023. According to a police statement, the suspect, Gavin Hendriks, held the victim at knifepoint and raped her while she was on her way back from an establishment. 'The accused dragged her to the soccer field, undressed her, and proceeded to sexually assault her. The accused fled the scene, leaving the victim, who went to the nearest house and received assistance in contacting the police,' read the police statement. Hendriks pleaded guilty to raping the victim and the De Aar Regional Court convicted and sentenced him. Approximately 142 Gender Based Violence (GBV) suspects have been arrested during Operation Shanela. Additionally, the operation arrested 732 suspects who have been on the run after committing violent crimes, including murder, rape, armed robbery, sexual assault and car hijacking. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- IOL News
Fraudster sentenced to eight years for R300,000 house sale scam
Riaan Dandrey Belelie was sentenced at the George Regional Court on Wednesday for a fraudulent house sale transaction, which cost the complainant R300 000. Image: Supplied / Hawks A fraudster has been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment after defrauding a complainant of R300,000. The convict, 39-year-old Riaan Dandrey Belelie, was sentenced at the George Regional Court on Wednesday for a fraudulent house sale transaction, as confirmed by Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani. According to Hani, Belelie went about the transaction in 2018. On the sentence, Hani said: 'This comes after he entered into a plea agreement with the State on charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, of which four years is suspended for five years. 'It is reported that on 3 August 2018, the complainant agreed to sell a house to the accused for the amount of R780,000. According to the terms of the agreement, the accused should pay a deposit of R350,000 on the date of signing the contract,' said Hani. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The court heard that the balance of R430,000 should be paid in three instalments of R143,334, and further, the amount of R5,000 per month for rent from September 2018 until November 2018. 'On 5 August 2018, a proof of payment to the amount of R300,000 was sent via email to the complainant. It was sent on a Standard Bank internet banking letterhead. Upon the receipt of proof of payment, the accused moved into the property. It was later discovered that the proof of payment was forged. This led to the arrest of the accused, which further resulted in his sentencing,' said Hani. The complainant suffered a potential loss of R300,000 and Belelie will effectively serve four years' direct imprisonment.
