A DURBAN North man, Elias Vasilaki Mechanicos, was arrested this week in connection with tender fraud valued at R142 million.

According to media reports Hawks officers arrested him on Wednesday, 17 December following a month-long investigation.

The Department of Public Works has accused the 48-year-old man of inflating the value of tenders that have been awarded to his company, Mechanicos. Reports say that Mechanicos lives in a luxury home in Glenashley.

Mechanicos has been released on R300 000 bail. The tenders were awarded for the building of a laundry at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi two years ago.