Warrant of arrest for former DA fraud suspect

A WARRANTfor the arrest of a former DAward councillor, facing 15 counts of fraud and one of corruption, was authorised yesterday.

Charlotte Tabisher, 68, failed to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

On the corruption charge, Tabisher is alleged to have induced Cape Minstrel member Abdullah Fakier to pay her R600 as his entry fee to the Minstrel Festival, when no entry fee was required.

Prosecutor Ezmerelda Johnson alleged that Tabisher kept the money for herself. This constituted a gratification in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

According to the charge sheet, Tabisher was a ward councillor from 2006 to 2010.

On the first 11 fraud counts, she is alleged to have required 11 alleged victims to pay her deposits ranging from R300 to R2 500 for low-cost housing. The State alleges that she was not authorised to receive the payments and that she kept the monies for herself. According to the charge sheet, she also established the Fruitful Day Care Centre in Athlone to care for the children of indigent community members.

The State alleges that she had a financial interest in the centre, but failed to declare it. According to the charge sheet, the centre closed in 1999. The State alleges, however, that after the centre closed, she fraudulently applied to the City for a R17 000 grant in aid of the centre. The aid was granted, but not paid, and this forms the basis of another fraud charge. On yet another charge, she is alleged to have applied for a further R17 000 grant for a nursery school after it had closed.

Tabisher is also alleged to have obtained a R30 000 loan from a Section 21 company under false pretenses. It is alleged that she used the money for her own benefit, and not for the benefit of the community.

She is also alleged to have duped a victim into making a number of payments, in order for her to assist him in securing the lease of property belonging to the City.

The State alleges that she used the money for her own benefit. – ANA

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