Pretoria pensioner linked to R4.7-m UIF Ters fraud out on R2k bail

A 62-year-old Hammanskraal pensioner, who was charged with fraud and laundering R4.7-million UIF Covid-19 Ters money, was released on bail this week, Pretoria Rekord reports.

Moreroa Moses Leso was released on R2 000 after he appeared at the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court on Monday.

Hawks Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the next court date was set for 30 October.

Leso was arrested on Sunday by the Hawks in Hammanskraal as UIF money meant for Mega Bus and Couch Company was allegedly “mistakenly” deposited into his account and he had “failed to disclose this”.

No arrests have been made at the Department of Labour yet.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said investigators were investigating the department to see whether any criminal syndicates were involved in handling the payments.

“The department also committed to doing its own internal investigations,” he said.

“On this case, it is understood the suspect allegedly used a reference number from his previous employer to apply for the UIF payout.

“It was later found after numerous enquiries by the company that the money was actually paid, but was redirected into the suspect’s account.”

According to the Hawks, Leso paid back only R4.6-million of the money, allegedly having spent almost R100 000 of the total amount.

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) deputy head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya said the arrest as another breakthrough by the team.

“Pensioners are supposed to be role models to their children and grandchildren. Without suggesting the guilt on the suspect, the behaviour in this manner suggests a bad role model,” Lebeya said.

The case was investigated by the NPA, Asset forfeiture unit, financial intelligence centre, priority crime specialised investigation and the intelligence community.

This arrest brings the number of people arrested linked to UIF Ters to 14.

None of these arrests included any UIF staffers.

This is the second UIF Ters fraud case linked in Pretoria; the first was that of Tshepang Howard Phohole, who received R5.6-million that was meant for CSG employees.

In this case, no one from the Department of Labour has been arrested.