A former Beitbridge Border Post official, Nthapeleng Munyai (47) and the former Clearing Agent, Tsumbedzo Nemaangani (46) were convicted for fraud and corruption by the Musina Regional Court on 30 June 2023.
During March 2016, the accused, Nthapeleng who was a Clearing Agent colluded with Nemaangani, who was a customs official attached to Beitbridge Border Post to assist a truck full of semi-manufactured tobacco products to pass through the border from Zimbabwe into South Africa without any clearance or documentation.
The truck was stopped by the Cross Border Road Traffic Agency at the weigh bridge and the driver produce forged documents which did not match the details of the truck.
The truck was diverted back to Beitbridge Border Post for physical inspection.
During this process the driver ran away and the Clearing Agent left the scene.
The truck was physically inspected, semi- manufactured tobacco products valued at over R6 million was found loaded inside the truck. Preliminary investigation revealed that the load was undeclared at Customs.
The case docked of fraud was opened at Musina police station.
The case was handed to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further handling.
The accused were later arrested by the Polokwane based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigators. Both accused appeared in the Musina Magistrates’ Court and released on bail.
The investigations processed until they were both convicted as follows:
Accused number 1: Nthapeleng Munyai was convicted for:
Count 1: Fraud
Count 2: Forgery
Count 3: Corruption
Count 4: Corruption
Count 5: Corruption
The case was remanded to 13 September 2023 for pre-sentence proceedings.
Accused number 2: Tsumbedzo Neaangani was only convicted for fraud.
The case was remanded to 13 September 2023 for pre-sentence proceedings.
Both accused are out with their extended bail.
The post Beitbridge border post official and agent convicted for fraud appeared first on South Africa Today.