ADDITIONAL ACCUSED ARRESTED IN ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERING CASE EXCEEDING HALF A MILLION
NORTHERN CAPE: Saal Andrico Brenton (43), made a brief appearance before Prieska Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 21 May 2025 facing charges of five (5) counts of money laundering.
Brenton was arrested on the same day of his court appearance by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team at his residence.
He will be joining his co-accused Schalk Pienaar (37), Leolene Pienaar (34) and Patricia Booysen (34), who were arrested on 18 December 2024, facing (39) counts of corruption, (48) counts of fraud and (78) counts of money laundering. They were later released on bail.
Allegations are between April 2020 and October 2021. The main accused Mr Schalk Pienaar and his two co-accused defrauded GWK to the tune of R705 005.50. Mr Pienaar was employed as a supervisor at a fuel station, he fraudulently registered his wife as a supplier at GWK fuel station. The registration was done without declaration of the relationship between the two as required by GWK policy. Schalk Pienaar colluded with his colleague Adminstration Clerk, Ms Patricia Booysen to submit falsified invoices to his wife’s favour, subsequent to payments into the wife’s account, some funds was allegedly transferred to Booysen’s bank account. Further, Investigation revealed that Mr Brenton received proceeds of alleged crime and consequently became liable of five counts of money laundering.
Mr Schalk Pienaar tendered his resignation before the matter could be handed over for investigation while Ms Booysen‘s employment was terminated.
Brenton was released on R300 bail and the case is postponed to Tuesday, 27 May 2025 for pre trial conference with the other three accused.
