Port St Johns Local Municipality employee Edith Duna (46) made a brief appearance before the Mthatha specialised commercial crimes court yesterday, February 16, on numerous counts of fraud.
Duna was arrested by the Mthatha-based serious commercial crimes investigation unit of the Hawks on the same day, according to Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela.
“It is alleged that between January and June 2022, Duna who is employed by the Port St Johns Local Municipality as an expenditure accountant, created two shell companies, Imizamoyethu Trading and Zamambo Trading, with an intention to defraud the municipality.
“She reportedly processed 15 fictitious payments on the municipality systems which were subsequently paid to her personal bank account without services being rendered,” Mgolodela said.
The municipality reported the matter to the Hawks which led to Duna’s arrest yesterday.
Mgolodela added that their investigation revealed that the Port St Johns Local Municipality was prejudiced more than R260 000 in cash due to the crimes.
The court has released Duna on warning and remanded her matter to March 2, 2023, for docket disclosure.
ISSUED BY HAWKS EASTERN CAPE
