Icasa chair gets 20 years for fraud
SENTENCES: THREE STOLE R6M – ‘DISQUALIFIED FOR JOB’
Citizen reporter
The portfolio committee on communications chairperson Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize said she had noted the sentence imposed on the chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), Rubben Mohlaloga, who was found guilty on fraud and money laundering charges in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
“The Icasa Act of 2014 is clear on what constitutes disqualification to persons serving on the Icasa council,” Mkhize said.
“Accordingly, the committee will play its oversight role on Icasa in line with the legislation in order to restore stability and ethical leadership at the entity.”
Former Land Bank CEO Philemon Mohlahlane, Mohlaloga – a former member of parliament – and attorney Dinga Rammy Nkhwashu were sentenced on Thursday by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for defrauding the Land Bank of about R6 million.
“The three men were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigative unit in October 2012,” said Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
“This followed relentless investigations that revealed that they had formed a common purpose to defraud the AgriBEE Fund/Land Bank government project of R6 million, which was undeservedly paid into a trust account operated by Nkhwashu’s firm on Mohlahlane’s instruction.”
The BEE agriculture project was meant to benefit emerging farmers and assist previously disadvantaged farmers‚ women and youth, to acquire land and to farm.
“The crime was made possible after Mohlahlane instructed the fund manager to transfer the funds, when he made it seem like it was an urgent ministerial instruction for a ministerial project.
“No procedures were consequently followed. There was no proper application‚ no due diligence was done on the project and the matter was never served before the National Advisory Panel for approval,” Mulaudzi said.
The funds were then subsequently transferred out of Nkhwashu’s trust account in a large number of intricate transactions to the benefit of the three.
Mulaudzi said the team worked closely with the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) to ensure that assets acquired through the proceeds of crime, valued at approximately R3.2 million, were recovered.
These included a farm at Schuinshoek and a luxury BMW vehicle.
The court handed Mohlahlane an effective seven years jail term, while Mohlaloga is to serve twenty years. Dinga Rammy Nkhwashu has been condemned to serve an effective sentence of 24 years.
An application for leave to appeal against conviction was dismissed but an application for leave to appeal against the sentence was granted for all three accused, who have all been granted bail ranging from R30 000 to R100 000.
The conviction follows relentless investigations into a common purpose of crime.
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi Hawks spokesperson