North company director accused of Sassa fraud returns to court in July
The accused is charged with the Contravention of Social Assistance Act, fraud, theft, and other charges.
The Pretoria North magistrate’s court has postponed the trial against a 67-year-old woman facing charges of perjury, fraud, and theft.
The NPA said the case against Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney was postponed to July 29 for cross-examination and to iron out her Section 174 application for a discharge.
The case had resumed on Monday, April 15.
Sigamoney is charged with the Contravention of Social Assistance Act, perjury, fraud and theft.
NPA North West spokesperson Henry Mamothame said it is alleged that in April 2017, Sigamoney applied for an old age grant with Sassa, attaching a supporting affidavit wherein she stated that she had never worked in 20 years.
Mamothame said the application was approved and from July 2017 to July 2022, Sigamoney allegedly received payments totalling R123 000.
“After charges were being registered against her, she continued to receive the payments for a further 16 months,” he said.
Mamothame said the suspect was also the sole director of a company awarded tenders worth millions to supply furniture to the SAPS .
He said her company, KJP allegedly did business with the state since 2012, before her pension application to Sassa.
“The company is estimated to have cashed in almost R88-million from SAPS contracts, with the last payment in 2022,” said Mamothame.
He said the state called on six SAPS and Sassa witnesses to give evidence against Sigamoney.
“A Sassa quality assurance officer confirmed that the application to receive the grant was indeed made by the accused,” said Mamothame.
He said, led by her attorney through her evidence in-chief, Sigamoney subsequently alleged that she had not participated in any transactions by the company since 2012.
He said she in fact alleged her son and daughter-in-law were in charge of the company in her name.
Mamothame said evidence from KJP Trader’s account showed the family of the accused had made various purchases.
“The accused expected to be cross-examined by the state when the case resumes in July,” he said.
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