‘Ghost workers’ scam accused enters plea

Kilelo was charged with 70 counts of fraud and 70 counts of money laundering

A FORMER Sol Plaatje Municipality

employee, Mpoletsang Beauty Kilelo, 47, was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to 140 charges of fraud and money laundering in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court (SCCC) in Kimberley.

Kilelo was charged with 70 counts of fraud and 70 counts of money laundering, involving an amount of over R800,000.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said that Kilelo falsely and unlawfully misrepresented that ghost workers were entitled to receive remuneration when they were never employed at the municipality between November 2011 and December 2013 and between May 2016 and July 2016.

“The accused worked hand in hand with her supervisor and other colleagues by creating ghost workers and paying them monthly, therein defrauding the municipality. After multidisciplinary investigations that were initiated by the municipality, the accused was arrested by the Hawks on March 23, 2021,” said Senokoatsane.

He added that Kilelo was granted bail of R1,000 following her arrest.

“Upon entering a plea agreement, the accused was sentenced to six years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on the condition that she does not commit the same offence during the period of suspension and that she satisfies the confiscation order in terms of Section 18 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 to the amount of over R700,000, to the benefit of Sol Plaatje Municipality.”

Senokoatsane added that Kilelo was expected to serve three years of correctional supervision, along with house arrest, and 16 hours of community service per month.

“She will have to attend crime prevention programmes and will be subjected to monitoring. She may not change her address and must report to the correctional officer near her home. Observance of these conditions will be monitored by the commissioner of Correctional Services.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions commended the NPA and sector partners in the Hawks for their role in securing the sentence in a “difficult fraud and money laundering case”.

“We will continue to prosecute without fear or favour and ensure that criminals face the might of the law,” Senokoatsane concluded.