Johannesburg - Former Land Bank CEO Philemon Mohlahlane and three others appeared briefly in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday in connection with fraud charges, the National Prosecuting Authority said.
Ex-Land Bank CEO arrested for false qualifications
Former Land Bank chief executive Philemon Mohlahlane was arrested on Thursday for the second time this month by the Hawks in Polokwane for charges related to the alleged falsification of his qualifications.
Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela said a 56-year-old former Land Bank chief executive had been arrested on charges of fraud and uttering."A suspect allegedly submitted fraudulent documents when he applied for and held several high ranking government jobs," Polela said.
The posts he had held were head of the department of the Free State provincial governemnt, chief executive of the Land Bank and chief executive of the Limpopo Agricultural Development Corporation (LADC). He was axed from the LADC post last year after about two months in the position. His employment at the time was controversial as it followed his suspension form the land Bank.
His axing from the LADC followed a forensic report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers which apparently uncovered many irregularities. The LADC appointed him over 22 other candidates apparently without consulting the provincial agriculture MEC Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba or Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale.
The Polokwane Observer newspaper reported last november that an external auditing firm had found that Mohlahlane, who had claimed the title of doctor, did not pass matric and that his degree from the united states was bogus.
Polela said today that according to the information in the Hawks' possession Mohlahlane had written his matric exam in 1974, but had in fact failed.
Earlier this month Mohlahlane was released on bail in connection with charges of defrauding the Land Bank of R14 million. He is expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court later today.
ex-land-bank-ceo-arrested-for-false-qualifications
"(The) case in Pretoria was postponed to July 27 for further investigations and we (are) still confident of sustaining the charges in a subsequent trial," spokesperson advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said.
Mohlahlane, former Gauteng housing MEC Mpu Daniel Mofokeng, Khutso Mosoma and Matuba Maponya were arrested on five counts of fraud and five of money laundering in February.
They allegedly transferred money from the AgriBEE fund to a firm of attorneys and spent the money on cars and houses. The fund was intended to help start up small businesses.
Mohlahlane is also being investigated for allegedly presenting fake educational qualifications.
Mohlahlane, former Gauteng housing MEC Mpu Daniel Mofokeng, Khutso Mosoma and Matuba Maponya were arrested on five counts of fraud and five of money laundering in February.
They allegedly transferred money from the AgriBEE fund to a firm of attorneys and spent the money on cars and houses. The fund was intended to help start up small businesses.
Mohlahlane is also being investigated for allegedly presenting fake educational qualifications.
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| Ex-MEC in court over missing AgriBEE millions | |
 Former Land Bank CEO Philemon Mohlahlane appeared briefly in the Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria yesterday with three others accused of embezzling R19m from the AgriBEE scheme. A report on the IoL site says Mohlahlane, former Gauteng housing MEC Mpu Daniel Mofokeng, Khutso Mosoma and Matuba Maponya appeared in court on five counts of fraud and five counts of money laundering. They were released on bail of R40 000 each and the case was postponed until 3 May. The four were arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday. At the time, Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said they allegedly transferred money from the AgriBEE fund to a firm of attorneys. This money was then allegedly used to buy houses and cars, rather than to fund the struggling small, medium and micro enterprises for which the money was intended. Full report on the IoL site |
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