fraud - The African Mirror

Jan

2024

Congo opposition leaders call for protest on inauguration day

TWO of the main opposition candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo's December presidential election have called for a protest this Saturday when President Felix Tshisekedi is due to be sworn in for a second term. Tshisekedi and his party won the December 20-24 general election by a landslide, but the vote was marred by widespread allegations of fraud, logistical shortcomings and disruptions. The fallout threatens to further destabilise Congo, the world's third-largest copper producer and the top producer of cobalt, a key component in electric car batteries. The two opposition leaders, Martin Fayulu and Moise Katumbi, as well as others, have…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Gupta ally freed on R10 000 bail

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER DINESH Patel, an ally of the Gupta family, suspected of being at the centre of state capture in South Africa, has appeared in court and was granted bail of R10 000. Patel, a 5th accused, joined his brother-in-law Iqbal Sharma and 15 other accused in facing charges of fraud, money laundering in connection to the R25-million feasibility study that was to be conducted on the Estina Dairy Farm in Vrede, in the Free State. According to the charge sheet, Patel’s company, Nulane Investments, received the R25-million from the Free State government and because it had no capacity…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

The CIA, politics behind my prosecution – Zuma

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FORMER president Jacob Zuma has alleged that Leonard McCarthy, the ex-director of special operations in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), was a spy working for the Central Intelligence Agency. The bombshell allegations are contained in an affidavit by Zuma in support of his application that Advocate Billy Downer, the prosecutor who has worked on the fraud and corruption case for 17 years, should recuse himself. Zuma yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering, money laundering, fraud and corruption. In the affidavit, read in court by Advocated Dali Mpofu and Thabani Masuku, Zuma alleged that the charges…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

UK fraud prosecutor closes KBR investigation

BUSINESS

KIRSTIN RIDLEY BRITAIN's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has closed its four-year bribery and corruption investigation into the UK subsidiaries of KBR Inc, a U.S.-listed engineering, procurement and construction company. The investigator and prosecutor said yesterday that it had not uncovered sufficient evidence to pursue the case. KBR said it was "pleased and supportive" of the decision, which followed similar announcements by the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission that put "a final conclusion to this matter". The closure of the case is the latest in a string of major investigations shut under SFO head Lisa Osofsky. Inquiries…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

“I’m innocent”, says ANC leader Magashule after being granted bail in graft case

NEWS

ACE Magashule, the powerful ANC politician who is out on R200 000 bail after being charged with 21 counts of corruption, says he is innocent and the charges against him are trumped. Hours after he appeared in court, Magashule, the ANC secretary-general, told ENCA TV that he was innocent. “I am not corrupt. I will never be corrupt,” Magashule said. He said he will use his court case to expose how charges against him are trumped and the individuals behind the plot. Magashule, the former premier of the Free State, said he would not step down from his role as…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Four ex-top Gauteng officials bust for R1.2-billion tender fraud

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FOUR former senior Gauteng Health Department officials have been arrested in connection with fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with an irregular R1,2-billion information technology tender. Former head of department Sybil Ngcobo, Mmakgosi Mosupi (former director of information and communication), Valdis Ramaano (former head of supply chain) and Obakeng Moekeletsi (former deputy director-general), were arrested by The Hawks and have appeared in the Palm Ridge Commercial Crimes Court, where they were granted bail. The state alleges that in 2007, the four were involved in criminal activities which resulted in a tender for R57-millions ballooning to R1.2-bilion…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Police general “received gifts and a R400 000 kickback”

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER “Nobody is above the law,” declared South Africa’s national police commissioner General Khehla Sitole on the day one of his deputies appeared in court, charged with fraud and corruption. Lieutenant-General Bonang Mgwenya, the deputy national commissioner for human resources has joined nine other top police officers in dock where they are charged with criminality in relation to an irregular R191-million ”blue lights tender”. Mgwenya is now the 13th suspect and the 9th police officer who have been arrested and appeared in court in connection with a 2017 multi-million rand tender fraud to purchase blue lights and radios…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Lori Loughlin apologizes for college scam as actress, husband get prison sentences

WORLD

NATE RAYMOND "FULL HOUSE" actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli were sentenced on Friday to respective prison terms of two months and five months for participating in a vast U.S. college admissions scam. Loughlin, 56, choked up as she apologized to U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston for the "awful decision" she made to try to help her daughters gain an "unfair advantage" in the college admissions process. She and her husband were sentenced after they pleaded guilty in May to engaging in a fraud scheme aimed at securing spots for their daughters at the…