IOL News reports that a company director, found guilty of defrauding the Covid-19 Temporary Employer Relief Scheme (TERS), has been fined R450,000.
Luyanda Brian Vava, 34, and his business entity, Widelink Technologies, were convicted and sentenced by the East London Commercial Crimes Court on seven counts of fraud. The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) arrested Vava in April 2024, almost four years after the fraud. Hawks spokesperson Warrant-Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana explained that in 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, “Vava intentionally and unlawfully lodged a claim from Unemployed Insurance Fund (UIF) on behalf of his employees through his company.” A probe by the Hawks revealed that there was material misrepresentation was made in order to defraud the UIF. Mhlakuvana said TERS suffered an actual prejudice of R300,000 and the employees did not receive a cent of the money. On Friday, Vava was sentenced to pay a fine of R450,000 or to serve three years of imprisonment. The Hawks said his business entity was sentenced to also pay a fine of R450,000, which was wholly suspended for a period of three years. Vava was ordered to pay R5,000 immediately and then pay R10,000 each month starting on 31 October 2024.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at IOL News
- Read too, Company director used documents of unemployed people and was paid R72,000 Covid-19 relief funds, at IOL News
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