Key Points
- Officials who had worked previously for intelligence used their position to steal R5.8 million from SSA.
- Bail set at R100,000 and R150,000, with strict conditions.
- Workers at the organization allegedly committed acts of money laundering alongside deceitful property transactions.
The State Security Agency (SSA) became a victim of R5.8 million fraud at the hands of two former intelligence officers named Ntshavheni Prince Makhathana and Matome Solomon Ralebipi.
The pair entered the Palm Ridge specialised commercial crimes court system for the initial time on Monday and obtained bail amounts of R100,000 and R150,000 respectively.
Bail conditions for defrauding SSA
The defendants received bail terms requiring them to hand over their travel papers and restricting them to stay at their homes unless they need to consult lawyers or receive medical care.
They also need to visit the nearest police station during Fridays. The defendants must refrain from liquidating their real estate possessions and they cannot interact with state witnesses directly or indirectly.
Allegations and fraud scheme
The former CSU manager from NIA under present-day SSA Makhathana defrauded the organization out of R5.8 million using his supervisor position. Several authorities accuse Ralebipi and Makhathana of money laundering activities which they did through Ralebipi’s property business enterprise.
Through his official role Makhathana abused his power to steal money while making Ralebipi’s company serve as a money washing system to hide the source of stolen funds according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Under investigation the two suspects defrauded the SSA between 2007 and 2010 over three years.
Money laundering and property transactions
Through Ralebipi Properties CC his company carried out two business property acquisitions. Ralebipi used the result from a lengthy legal battle to acquire High Court approval that mandated the transfer of ownership to his company where he holds the sole position.
According to Henry Mamothame from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption the two officials seized advantages of their positions at the intelligence service to work through CSU’s covert operations so they could bypass financial protections for their own personal profit, making them guilty for defrauding SSA.
Finally, the court has now moved the pre-trial procedures to June 23.
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