Fraudster fined R100 000 in tender scandal
2011-10-05 16:35
Johannesburg - Convicted fraudster Ansano Romano was fined R100 000 or in effect three years in prison by the Kimberley Regional Court on Wednesday, the National Prosecuting Authority said.
"This was after he entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the prosecution," spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said in a statement.
"Today's proceedings have far-reaching implications for the case and it is clear that the deal was fraudulent from the start."
As part of the agreement, the Cape Town businessman had undertaken to help in further investigations.
Romano and co-accused Donald Miller, who were charged with fraud alongside senior ANC officials, pleaded guilty on Thursday.
The other accused include KwaZulu-Natal legislature Speaker Peggy Nkonyeni, the province's Economic Development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu, former Ithala development finance corporation CEO Sipho Shabalala and Uruguayan businessman Gaston Savoi.
The charges against them relate to the awarding of multi-million rand tenders to Savoi's company Intaka to supply water purification plants and oxygen generating units to provincial hospitals.
The State alleges that standard procedures were bypassed to award the tenders, that prices were inflated, and that certain people were paid to influence the tender process.
- SAPA
