ZASTRON FORMER ACTING COURT MANAGER SLAPPED WITH A HEFTY SENTENCE

Photo: Hawks Logo

By: Neo Ntsele

Zastron former acting court manager Gaobuse Desmond

Mokhobo 35, appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 03, where he was sentenced for fraud, contravention of Section 4 of POCA, Act 121 of 1998, money laundering as well as contravention of Section 4(1) of RICA, Act 70 of 2000.

The court sentenced Mokhobo to thirteen years imprisonment for fraud six years of which is suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of fraud during the period of suspension.

During 2019, the Department of Justice became suspicious of fraud involving third party funds at Zastron Magistrates' Court. They then reported the matter to the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation team in Bloemfontein for further investigation.

It was discovered that the accused, who was employed at Zastron Magistrates' Court, would make deposits into the bank account of his partner using the credentials of another court official.

As a result, the Department of Justice was prejudiced and suffered a loss of R300 000.

He was also sentenced to five years direct imprisonment for contravention of Section 4 of POCA, Act 121 of 1998 (money laundering) and five years direct imprisonment for contravention of Section 4(1) of RICA, Act 70 of 2000.

All the sentences will run concurrently. Mokhobo will effectively serve seven years imprisonment.

He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.