3 in court on compensation fraud charges
2013-02-27 21:08
Johannesburg - Two former employees of the labour
department's Compensation Fund appeared in Pretoria Magistrate's Court on fraud
charges on Wednesday, the department said.
Spokesperson Page Boikanyo said Maxwell Ramaphosa and
Samuel Mfeleng faced 15 counts of fraud and 26 counts of money-laundering.
In a trial-within-a-trial, a police officer said an "admission"
contained in a statement from Ramaphosa was voluntarily given by him.
The defence claimed it was obtained under duress and
threats of arrest.
Boikanyo said prosecutor Margaret Thulare had told the
court it was strange that this aspect had not been challenged by the defence
earlier.
The court would rule on the admissibility of the disputed
statement on 5 March.
Ramaphosa and Mfeleng are accused of processing and
facilitating fraudulent claims submitted by physiotherapist Jurry Sehunoe.
Sehunoe pleaded guilty to 15 counts of fraud and 26 of
money-laundering.
He received a five-year suspended jail sentence in the
Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.
- SAPA
