Hendrina – Fraud accused, 55-year-old Patric Patrese Jones, will appear in the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, (13 September 2023), to face charges of stealing R14.7 million from Eskom.
Jones had been on the run for about 10 years when the Hawks eventually arrested him at his hideout in Gordons Bay, Western Cape, on 7 September 2023.
Allegations are that in April 2013, Jones colluded with 42-year-old Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi, who was working for Eskom as a Senior Buyer.
The accused’s grilfriend, 53-year-old Maria Cantelo – a foreign national, facilitated a dodgy tender on behalf of Angel Frost Investment PTY LTD.
RELATED: Eskom R14.7 Million Fraud: Accused Maria Cantelo Granted R100 000 Bail – The Bulrushes
Assisted by Nkosi, Frost Investment allegedly submitted fraudulent documents to secure the Eskom tender to supply pumps.
Nkosi allegedly misled Eskom’s finance department to approve an upfront payment of R14,7 million to Engel Frost Investment.
Although Eskom paid upfront, the company failed to deliver the pumps.
Investigation established that the family of Jones and his girlfriend were also allegedly involved in defrauding Eskom.
Jones’s 46-year-old brother, Godfrey Jason Jones, was a signatory to Angel Frost Investment PTY LTD business account held at Standard Bank.
The accused’s mom, 71-year-old Rabela Sarah Jones, was the sole director of Angel Frost Investment PTY LTD and Angel Frost Investment PTY LTD.
Nkosi, Godfrey Jason Jones and his 71-year-old mother were all arrested and released on bail.
Cantelo was later arrested and added as accused number five by the Hawks Middelburg.
The accused were arrested and released on R100 000 bail each, excluding the Rabela Sarah Jones, who was released on R30 000 bail due to her health conditions by the Hendrina Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Patric Patrese Jones remained elusive until his arrest last week. He appeared in transit in (Western Cape), Strand Magistrate’s Court on 8 September 2023.
He was transferred to Mpumalanga whereby he appeared at Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 11 September 2023.
Patric Patrese Jones was remanded in custody and the case was postponed to Wednesday, 13 September 2023 to be joined with his co-accused who are out on bail, and for his formal bail application.
The Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks, Brigadier Gregory Gaillard applauded the Western Cape multi-disciplinary team for the breakthrough in arresting the fugitive who has been hiding for almost 10 years.
Brigadier Gaillard also applauded the investigating officer for his determination.
