Another accused in the Cell C R130 million fraud matter 45-year-old Hilel January appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court Monday on charges of fraud and money laundering.
Last week 37-year-old Michelle Pillay and 42-year-old Khatiya Patel appeared in the same court in connection with the Cell C fraud matter.
Khatiya 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 pair were released on R50 000 bail each.
On Monday, January – also accused in the fraud – handed himself to authorities in Johannesburg accompanied by his legal representative and was subsequently arrested and charged.
January’s arrest brought to seven the number of accused persons in the massive fraud at Cell C, which allegedly involved inflating invoices for services rendered.
January is accused of involvement in the fraud in which Cell C’s money was allegedly stolen using inflated invoices from IT and network service providers, Redefine Technology, Cornerstone & Blue Kit IT, and Techno Genius between 2012 and 2019.
Investigations revealed that Redefined Technology, solely owned by former IT Manager at Cell C, January, was awarded software and network service tender.
Cell C was billed R130 million for services rendered after invoices were allegedly changed to reflect higher amounts.
As much as R47 million was allegedly transferred into Techno Genius, owned by 38-year-old Adriaan Pillay whose business partner, 44-year-old Mohamed Ismail Adamjee, at the time was a Cell C executive.
They were both arrested for allegedly colluding and inflating rates for services required by Cell C.
On Monday, January appeared in court and was granted bail of R30 000. His case was postponed to next week Wednesday, 16 February 2022, when he will appear alongside the other six suspects.
They include Michelle Pillay, Khatiya Patel, and their husband Adriaan Pillay and Mohamed Ismail Adamjee.
Manuel Reimaldo Teixeira (62), and Lufuno Lesly Nevhutalu (59) are the other accused in the fraud matter.
Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said investigations were continuing and more arrests could not be ruled out.
9 Comments
It’s disheartening to see such large-scale fraud affecting a prominent company like Cell C. I hope the legal proceedings bring justice and shed light on how these activities went unnoticed for so long. Transparency in the corporate sector is crucial to maintaining consumer trust.
This case highlights serious issues within corporate governance. It’s alarming to see such large sums being misappropriated. I hope the investigation uncovers the full extent of the fraud and leads to accountability for all parties involved.
This is a shocking revelation! It’s concerning to see such large-scale fraud in a company that many rely on for communication services. I hope justice is served, and better safeguards are implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
This case raises serious questions about corporate governance and accountability in South Africa. It’s disheartening to see such large sums of money involved in fraud, especially in the telecom sector. I hope justice is served and stronger measures are put in place to prevent such incidents in the future.
This case is shocking and highlights the need for stricter oversight in the telecommunications sector. It’s concerning how fraud can occur on such a large scale. I hope justice is served and that this serves as a wake-up call for better regulatory measures.
It’s incredibly disheartening to see a breach of trust like this involving such a significant amount. Fraud like this not only impacts the company but also affects countless employees and customers. I hope justice is served and that measures are put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This is a shocking development in the Cell C fraud case. It’s disheartening to see such misuse of trust and resources in the telecom industry. I hope justice is served, and this serves as a wake-up call for greater accountability in corporate governance.
This situation with Cell C is truly concerning. It’s shocking to see such a significant amount of money involved in fraud, and it raises questions about the oversight and accountability within the company. I hope the investigation brings justice and leads to stronger safeguards to prevent this from happening in the future.
This situation highlights serious concerns about corporate governance at Cell C. It’s frustrating to see such substantial amounts of money involved in fraud, especially when it affects consumers and employees alike. Accountability is crucial—hopefully, this case will lead to reform and stronger oversight in the industry.