‘R24m in fines stolen from court’

Official charged for missing money

A senior court manager in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court is under investigation for alleged theft of R1.1-million in admission of guilt fines paid by two Chinese nationals convicted of rhino poaching.

The 62-year-old man, who cannot be named until he has pleaded to the charges, and two junior officials have been suspended pending internal and police investigations.

The man appeared for theft in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court and was released on R3 000 bail in March. He will appear in the same court on June 6.

A source close to the investigation told Sowetan a court book which recorded evidence of fines from January had gone missing.

“On February 24 the magistrate ordered the two Chinese nationals to pay up the fine or face 10-year jail terms for being in possession of abalone, rhino and ivory horns. The Chinese nationals came carrying R50 and R100 notes in two shoe boxes and paid the fine immediately. However, the money can’t be traced and the court book also disappeared,” said the source.

Another source told Sowetan preliminary investigations revealed that other fines worth about R24-million have also been missing since January.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Thomas de Bruyn confirmed that police were investigating a theft case against the official.