A logistics clerk has been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment by the Richards Bay Regional Court for defrauding his employer of R3.8 million.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said Martinus Lourence Johannes Klemp, 34, had been convicted of fraud and money laundering. Kemp made several court appearances before he was sentenced.
Ngcobo said Kemp worked closely with service providers in the company. It was discovered that instead of paying suppliers, he fraudulently processed their invoices for payment but transferred the funds into his family members’ personal bank accounts.
She said the company’s bank alerted about possible fraudulent activities from September 2014 to October 2022.
“The matter was reported at Paulpietersburg Police Station in November 2022. Five suspects aged 62, 55, 35, and 34 years were arrested and appeared before court on February 8, 2022,” explained Ngcobo.
She said Klemp was the only one who pleaded guilty, while the other four pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
She added that the four suspects were due to appear before the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court on July 25.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, Hawks members from the Pietermaritzburg Serious Commercial Crime Investigation are looking for Nkosinathi Sboniso Mtambo, 41, Themba Nkosikhona Nhleko, 33, and Phumlani Experience Mhlongo, 36, in relation with a case of fraud which happened in Pietermaritzburg.
KZN Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said that on April 6, 2023, fraudulent payments were made from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s banking system to businesses that were not entitled to receive the funds.
Mhlongo said the wanted suspects are believed to be around Durban and warrants of arrest have been issued for them.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is requested to contact Captain Brad Swift at 082 567 4146 or 033 845 8534.
Independent on Saturday