NPA AND DPCI JOINT STATEMENT ON R19.7 MILLION FRAUD AND CORRUPTION CASE
Subsequent to the combined efforts of the KwaZulu-Natal(KZN) Division of the National Prosecuting Authority and the DPCI, the following people appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday. Pragasen (Pettie) Naidoo, Yah-Wear Promotions CC (Naidoo’s company), Sharon Fiona Naidoo (Naidoo’s wife), Qinisile Roof and Hardware CC, Debi George(Naidoo’s sister), Kirsty McEwan, Rakesh Maharaj and Ashni Sookhari (Maharaj’s wife) appeared in court yesterday on several charges of fraud and/or corruption (giving and receiving a benefit), and/or money laundering, and/or contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
Consulens (Pty) Ltd, the complainant in this matter, is a private company providing specialised services to the Department of Health, specifically, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital. The company provides a range of services including procurement, supply and replacement of medical equipment, and medical consumables. Between May 2015 to December 2017, Yah-Wear Promotions was a service provider to Consulens. George, McEwan, and Maharaj were employed by Consulens as a Logistics Manager, procurement training specialist and logistics officer, respectively. It is alleged that during this time George, McEwan and Maharaj orchestrated the demand/need for medical equipment to be supplied to Conculens; and Naidoo and his company, in common purpose with them, defrauded Consulens by inflating their invoices by more than R19.7 million.
The accused were arrested by the DPCI and they appeared in court. Yesterday’s appearance was concluded as follows: for Pragasen Naidoo and his wife, bail was fixed at R 30 000. Their bail conditions are that they must not apply for travel documents, and they must report at the Brackenfell Police Station in Cape Town once a week. Bail for George, Maharaj and his wife was fixed at
R8000 each. Bail for McEwan was fixed at
R10 000 with bail conditions that she must not apply for travel documents; and she must report at Scottburgh Police Station once a week.
The matter was postponed to 17 November 2023, for the state to provide copies of all the evidence to the accused.
The NPA and the DPCI are committed to fighting corruption; and by working together with each other and our partner stakeholders, we can turn the tide against corruption in South Africa.
