14 ACCUSED, INCLUDING TWO FORMER NEDBANK EMPLOYEES APPEAR IN COURT FOR R157 MILLION FRAUD
GAUTENG: Fourteen (14) accused, including two former Nedbank employees, Nicolette de Villiers and Keitumetse Mathimbi, aged between 25 and 51 years who were arrested on 29 October 2024 in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni by the Gauteng Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation on allegations of fraud and money laundering.
It is reported that the main suspect unlawfully made payments from suspense accounts valued at over R157 million which were further transferrednot varying amounts to recipients who were entitled to receive such monies. The amounts were between R50 000 and R20 million. Twenty-three (23) recipients are involved in the matter including fifteen (15) individuals, seven (7) entities and six (6) banks.
The accused, 1. Samantha Lee (40) JHB, 2. Jacobus Nel (39) PTA, 3. Miquite Nel (39) PTA, 4. Dillin Hoffman (33) PTA, 5. Jacobus Joubert (29) PTA, 6. Nicollette de Villiers (38) JHB, 7. Michelle Buys (36) JHB, 8. Mariska O’Connor (41) RDRT, 9. Andy O’Connor (47) RDRT, 10. Yu-Wei Fang (51) EKURHULENI, 11. Leane Botha (25) PTA, 12. Christiaan Venter (39) PTA, 13. Keitumetse Mathimbi (39) RDRT, and
- Segametsi Songwana (37) PTA made their first appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrates court on 30 October 2024. The accused were granted bail as follows:
- Samantha Lee (40) JHB R10 000
- Jacobus Nel (39) PTA R5 000
- Miquite Nel (39) PTA R5 000
- Dillin Hoffman (33) PTA R15 000
- Jacobus Joubert (29) PTA R5 000
- Nicollette de Villiers (38) JHB R20 000
- Michelle Buys (36) JHB R5 000
- Mariska O’Connor (41) RDRT R10 000
- Andy O’Connor (47) RDRT R10 000
- Yu-Wei Fang (51) EKURHULENI
- Leane Botha (25) PTA R2 000
- Christiaan Venter (39) PTA R5 000
- Keitumetse Mathimbi (39) RDRT R20 000
- Segametsi Songwana (37) PTA R5 000
Accused No 10, Yu-Wei Fang’s bail application will be heard on the 7 November 2024 in the same court, he was remanded in custody. The other 13 accused will appear again on 29 January 2025 for additional accused, and docket disclosure.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt Gen (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya commended the concerted efforts by the investigation team, prosecutors and specialists to ensure speedy finalization of the investigation and securing the attendance of the accused in court. This is one of the complex, high value serious commercial crime that exhibits the elements of professional money laundering enablers.
Investigations are continuing.
