Two fraud suspects, 37-year-old Michelle Pillay and 42-year-old Khatiya Patel appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday facing charges of fraud in which Cell C lost more than R130 million.
“It is alleged that between 2012 and 2019, Techno Genius Director, Adriaan Pillay (38) and his business partner Mohamed Ismail Adamjee (44), who was a Cell C executive, colluded and inflated rates for IT and network services required by Cell C which resulted in an actual loss of over R130 million,” said Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
Further investigations revealed that Patel allegedly colluded and inflated rates for the IT and network services rendered to Cell C while working as an Administrator at Techno Genius during the same period.
Fraud accused Michelle Pillay is said to have received about R3 million from the proceeds of the crime. The money was allegedly paid into her bank account.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Johannesburg traced Michelle Pillay and found her at her Sandton residence on Tuesday and arrested her.
Meanwhile, Patel handed herself over to the police on Wednesday morning. She was accompanied by her legal representative.
Fraud suspects Michelle Pillay and Patel were granted bail of R30 000 each.
Their case was postponed to 16 February 2022 for docket disclosure and will be joined to that of their husbands, Adriaan Pillay and Mohamed Ismail Adamjee.
The other co-accused Manuel Reimaldo Teixeira ( 62), and Lufuno Lesly Nevhutalu (59) will also appear on that date.
Teixeira and Nevhutalu were arrested early last year on a similar fraud case involving Cornerstone & Blue Kit IT.
They are both out on R50 000 bail each.
Authorities said their investigations are continuing and more arrests cannot be ruled out.
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