Hendrina – Fraud-accused 53-year-old Portuguese national Maria Cantelo accused of stealing millions from Eskom appeared in the Hendrina Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday.
Identified as accused number five Cantelo, who was arrested by the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, faces charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering.
Allegations are that between March and April 2013 the accused facilitated a dodgy tender on behalf of Angel Frost Investment to supply pumps to Eskom.
Cantelo was granted R100 000 bail with conditions.
She was ordered to hand over her passport and may not leave Mpumalanga without informing the investigating officer.
Cantelo was the fifth suspect in the matter that came to light after an intensive investigation conducted by Eskom Forensic Investigators.
Assisted by then Eskom employee, 42-year-old Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi, Engel Frost Investment allegedly submitted fraudulent documents to secure the tender.
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.
The internal Eskom probe found that all the accused acted in concert to secure the tender without following proper procurement processes.
Eskom reported the findings of possible fraud to the Hawks on 22 March 2023.
Allegations were that all the accused unlawfully benefited from the dodgy tender.
In earlier court appearances, two other accused, Nkosi, and 46-year-old Godfrey Jason Jones were released on bail of R100 000 each.
Owing to her health condition, another accused – ailing 71-year-old Rabela Sarah Jones – was released on much lower bail of R30 000.
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Hawks spokesperson Dineo Sekgotodi said one suspect was on the run and a warrant of arrest was issued against him.
The case was postponed to 5 June 2023 for further Investigation.
