Fraud accused fails to get charges dropped

AN APPLICATION made to have Portia “Pankie” Sizani discharged on the remaining fraud and money laundering charges against her was dismissed yesterday.

Sizani, wife of former ANC chief whip in Parliament Stone Sizani, appeared in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court before magistrate Mputumi Mpofu, who said in dismissing the application the State evidence could not be relied upon.

The application in terms of Section 174 states if, at the close of the prosecution’s case, the court believes there is no evidence the accused committed the offence concerned, it could return a verdict of not guilty.

Earlier this year Sizani was found not guilty on five of the 15 counts of money laundering against her after witnesses in the relevant cases could not be traced.

Sizani still has 16 counts of fraud and 10 counts of money laundering against her, however. She is accused of defrauding the Eastern Cape Education department of more than R1.2 million. – ANA