GQEBERHA – Megan Brooks (42) and Leroy Bezuidenhout (36) have been handed custodial sentences for their involvement in a fraud and money laundering scheme that saw more than R1.7 million misappropriated from Keens Wholesalers, a business based in Korsten, Gqeberha.

The sentences were secured by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Gqeberha.

According to the Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the sentences were handed down by the Regional Court at the New Law Courts in Gqeberha on Wednesday, 14 October, following an investigation by the Hawks.

“Their co-accused, Rochanda Leander (41), was sentenced in 2020,” he said.

Mhlakuvana added that Brooks and Leander were employed as office administrators at Keens Wholesalers. “Their duties included telesales, compiling invoices for payment and preparing cash deposits intended for the company’s suppliers.”

He explained that between September 2017 and February 2018, Brooks and Leander allegedly prepared deposit slips purporting to reflect legitimate payments to Health Shield.

“Instead of the funds being deposited into the supplier’s legitimate account, the money was channelled into an account opened in Health Shield’s name,” he said. “The funds were subsequently shared among the accused, resulting in a total misappropriation of more than R1.7 million.”

The Hawks conducted an investigation that culminated in the arrest of the accused.

“They appeared in court and were subsequently released on bail,” he said. “The matter proceeded through numerous court appearances before Brooks and Bezuidenhout were sentenced on Wednesday, 14 October.”

Mhlakuvana added that Brooks was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for fraud, of which five years were suspended, subject to certain conditions.

“She was also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for money laundering, with the sentence ordered to run concurrently with her fraud sentence,” he said. “Therefore, Brooks will serve seven years’ imprisonment.”

Mhlakuvana also explained that Bezuidenhout was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment for fraud, of which four years were suspended for five years, subject to certain conditions.

“He was further sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for money laundering, with the sentence ordered to run concurrently with his fraud sentence,” he said. “Therefore, Bezuidenhout will serve nine years’ imprisonment.”

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