Standerton Eskom container fraud accused 55-year-old Annemarie Stander has been released on R5 000 bail.
Stander allegedly colluded with Eskom employees to fraudulently invoice the power utility for two containers worth nearly a million rand even though the goods were never delivered.
The accused was arrested by the Middelburg-based Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team and charged with fraud, theft and money laundering.
However, on Wednesday,15 February 2023, Stander was released on R5 000 bail by the Standerton Magistrates Court.
The case was adjourned and transferred to the Middleburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where it will be heard next week on Monday, 20 February 2023.
Narrating events leading to Stander’s arrest, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said: “The investigation revealed that during 2021, Eskom Tutuka Power Station issued an order to Umnandi Conference and Catering for the purchase and delivery of two containers at the power station”.
Captain Sekgotodi added: “The company, Umnandi colluded with Eskom employees and the company invoiced Eskom an amount of R939 550 without purchasing and delivering the containers.
“Payment was done and Eskom suffered a loss.”
The accused will be added to other three Eskom officials who were arrested by Standerton detectives before the case was transferred to the Hawks for further investigation in January 2023.
Meanwhile, Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber applauded the magnificent work done by a multidisciplinary team.
As the Hawks, we are committed to work together with our counterparts to fight crime within Mpumalanga province,” said Major General Gerber.
“We shall work around the clock to ensure that all the government national key points are secured and all offenders within the government institutions are removed.
