Travel scam: NNP man sentenced
2005-04-01 22:19
Willem Jordaan
Cape Town - Another former member of parliament - a member of the New National Party - has been sentenced on fraud charges in the parliamentary travel scam after he entered into a plea-bargaining agreement.
Rodney Rhoda, a former NNP MP, pleaded guilty in terms of the plea agreement and was sentenced to imprisonment of one year or a fine of R30 000, according to Jannie van Vuuren, an advocate with the national prosecution authority.
A further sentence of three years' has been suspended for three years.
Rhoda used travel coupons - intended only for air tickets - to pay for hotel accommodation.
The amount concerned is said to be R43 000.
Rhoda could not be contacted for comment.
The former NNP member of parliament joins five African National Congress members who were sentenced earlier this month after plea-bargaining agreements.
Had own range of skin-care products
In the indictment, it is stated unequivocally that all accused were, at all times, fully informed about the procedures and requirements for claims to the secretary of parliament for air tickets for MPs.
Apart from becoming a well-known personality during his long political career, Rhoda was also a qualified pharmacist, developing and marketing his own range of hair and skin-care products.
Six members of parliament have been sentenced on charges of travel-coupon fraud, but it is known that the advocate representing the ANC MPs, Seth Nthai, is still negotiating with the Scorpions regarding finalisation of further plea-bargain agreements.
It is possible that more MPs will enter into plea agreements or alternatively appear in court on charges of fraud.
So far, a total of 24 present or former members of parliament have been charged.
The ANC has said it will consider disciplinary steps against its convicted members once the whole judiciary process has been completed.
- Die Burger