THE FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING CASE AGAINST A ZAMBIAN NATIONAL AND HIS CO-ACCUSED SET FOR TRIAL

The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Rustenburg, postponed the case against Evan Mutale (44), a Zambian national and Dineo Precious Powane to 31 August 2023, for consultations and trial. Powane is facing charges of money laundering, while Mutale is facing 49 charges of fraud and one of money laundering, after his arrest by the SAPS’ Provincial Commercial Crime Unit on 12 April 2023, in Rustenberg. He was charged for stealing over R 5 million, from Jaira Constructions and Projects, where he was employed as an accountant, responsible for managing accounts, payroll, and loading payments. Powane was granted R3000 bail, while Mutale is out on R10 000 bail.

It is alleged that between September 2019 and November 2020, Mutale fraudulently transferred money into an account belonging to Powane, who has no links to the company but is known to him. These transactions were allegedly done under the pretence of paying a service provider for services rendered to the company. In the process, he deceived his supervisor to make final authorisations for money to be transferred into Powane’s bank account. Investigations revealed that some of this money was later transferred to his bank account and, as such contributed to the state charging him with money laundering.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, expressed her satisfaction with the progress made in bringing the accused’ to account on the charges against them.