Former KZN agriculture HOD and acting judge arrested

Hawks members from the Durban Serious Corruption Investigation Unit arrested two suspects, aged 62 and 63, for fraud, corruption and money laundering.

It is alleged a 63-year-old former head of department for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and his accomplice misrepresented to a businessman to pay R1 million into a vehicle dealership.

Subsequently, a 62-year-old acting judge, who was a service provider to the department at that time, allegedly paid R300 000 to the same vehicle dealership and purchased a R1.3 million vehicle that was later handed over to the HOD. A case of fraud, corruption and money laundering was reported at Hilton Police Station.

Hawks members took over the investigation and the two were arrested on Tuesday morning. They were expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday.