Johannesburg – Qualifications cheat, Daniel Mthimkhulu, a former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) executive, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for three counts of fraud by the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
Mthimkhulu was convicted in January 2022 on allegations of misrepresenting his qualifications to PRASA and submitting a fraudulent job offer letter that he claimed to have received from a German engineering firm for a position in its engineering department.
PRASA suffered prejudice amounting to R2.8 million per annum following their counter-offer to Mthimkhulu in 2010.
The 49-year-old was found guilty of fraud after investigations revealed that he had falsified his qualifications, claiming to hold a Master’s degree from Wits University and a Doctorate in Engineering Management from the Technische Universitat Munchen in Germany, whereas he had no such qualifications.
The accused started working for the entity in 2000.
While Mthimkhulu pleaded not guilty, the overwhelming evidence against him undermined any claim of remorse.
Senior State Advocate Sithembiso Bhengu argued that Mthimkhulu’s conduct not only adversely affected ordinary South Africans who could have benefited from the money that was unduly paid to him by PRASA, but also had immense reputational damage on the entity.
He further added that there were no circumstances that justified the imposition of a lesser sentence, citing that Mthimkhulu did not take responsibility for his actions as he maintained that his promotions were performance and skills-based, therefore showing no remorse for his dishonest conduct.
In sentencing the accused on Tuesday, (3 September 2024), the court took into account the seriousness and prevalence of fraud, the significant financial loss to PRASA, and Mthimkhulu’s betrayal of his employer’s trust.
His false qualifications and the direct impact on PRASA, as well as the large amount involved, were also considered.
NPA Regional Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said: “The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the NPA obtained an asset forfeiture order worth over R5 million to recoup and ensure that the benefit from proceeds of crime is removed.
“The sentence sends a strong message that the perpetrators of white collar crime will not go unpunished.”
