Former MEGA clerk has her day in court
She was first arrested with others in 2012 for defrauding the department.
A woman was arrested for 36 counts of fraud, money laundering and theft. Siphiwe Emily Mashinini (37) appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Hawks spokesman, Capt Dineo Sekgotodi said Mashinini, a former Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) employee, was arrested on Friday.
“During 2011 Mashinini was employed as the financial clerk, and she was responsible for payments to the small businesses.”
The suspect allegedly changed the account numbers of the service providers and substituted them with that of her her ex-husband’s, Mike Mhlupheki (54), family members, her friend, Thulisile Petronella Nkundla (42), and her husband, Mfelani Louis Nkundla (45), and transferred money amounting to more than R1 million.
She was first arrested with the others in 2012 for defrauding the department. At the time, they were granted R5 000 bail each.
The other suspects were found guilty and sentenced in 2013 to seven years’ imprisonment in respect of each of the 18 counts of theft, wholly suspended for five years on condition that they were not convicted on money laundering committed during the period of suspension.
The forfeiture unit of the National Prosecuting Authority seized a house and two vehicles belonging to the Nkundlas.
Mashinini’s parents’ house and her Toyota Tazz have been attached by the same unit, awaiting the judgment.
She was supposed to have appeared in the Graskop Regional Court on March 5 for trial, but she and her attorney failed to appear and a warrant of arrest was issued.
Mashinini was denied bail and the case postponed to April 9 for further investigation.
