Former STLM employee sentenced for theft, fraud and money laundering
A five-year suspended sentence and 24 months house arrest was handed down by the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
Sylvia Nyandeni (41), was found guilty and sentenced by the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday, 21 February for fraud, theft and contravention of Section 4 read with Section 1,6 and 8 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, money laundering.
It is alleged that during October 2018, while the accused was an employee of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, she defrauded two victims who were in need of houses.
The accused misrepresented that she is authorised by the municipality to receive money for the low-cost houses that were to be built in Rockdale, Middelburg.
The accused received an amount of R130 000 from the victims.
The matter was reported to the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation which arrested the suspect on 23 July 2020. She appeared before court on several occasions until she was found guilty and sentenced.
The accused was sentenced for fraud and theft, 5 years imprisonment which is wholly suspended for a period of 5 years on condition that the accused is not convicted of fraud and theft.
For contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, money laundering, she was sentenced to 24 months house arrest for the full duration of the correctional supervision.
The accused was ordered to repay the victims an amount of R30 000 each and further declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103(1) of Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
