A 36-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT OR A FINE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND RANDS FOR 31 COUNTS OF FRAUD CASES
POLOKWANE: The Specialised Commercial Court in Polokwane has, on Tuesday, 09 July 2024, sentenced a 36-year-old male, Thapelo Jack Mohlake, for 31 count of fraud cases.
The court heard that between 2022-09-03 to 2022-11-03, the accused, who was an employee at Makhado Beer Distributors, defrauded the company an amount, of R528 751,71 by giving customers credit notes and directed them to pay their debts into his bank account instead of paying into the company account.
The company noticed the incident and opened a case of fraud at Makhado police station, and the case was transferred to Provincial Detective at Commercial Crime Investigations unit for further investigations. The docket was assigned to Sergeant Ditsepu Makwela of Provincial Detective: Commercial Crime Investigations unit. Subsequently, the suspect was linked to 31 counts of fraud cases and arrested due to thorough Police investigations.
Thapelo Jack Mohlake (36) was then sentenced to five years imprisonment or a fine of R100 000,00 (hundred thousand rands), and five years wholly suspended sentence on condition he does to not commit any similar offence. He was also ordered to pay back the whole amount of R528 751,71 into the victim’s account with installments of R50 000,00 which is to start on 2024-08-31 until the money was fully paid.
He opted to pay fine of R100 000,00 (hundred thousand rands) also on installments of R50 000,00 per month and he was released by court.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo SAPS Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has warmly welcomed the sentencing.
