Ndudi Anyim
Luthando Richmond Mbinda, an expelled National President of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), has appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud and theft to the tune of R244 million.
The 60-year-old handed himself over to the office of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Bellville prior to his court appearance.
Mbinda is the third suspect arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for the said fruad.
Security Watch Africa reports that his alleged accomplices, Gcobani Katiya, 53, and Ramarumo Edward Mfulane, 35, were arrested and appeared in the same court on April 9, but later released on warning.
According to Lt. Col. Philani Nkwalase, “On May 13, 2017, after Mbinda was expelled from the party, he along with Katiya and Mfulane, allegedly went to Nedbank Durbanville and opened three bank accounts in the name of PAC. Thereafter the accused allegedly informed the Finance Department of Parliament that funds owed to the PAC be transferred to the Nedbank account and not the existing ABSA account on record for the party at Parliament.
“Parliament funds to the amount of R1,448,053-51million were then transferred to the accounts and the monies were allegedly withdrawn by the accused. On March 13, 2019, Mbinda again went to First National Bank (FNB) to open other accounts in the name of LR Mbinda trading as Azania, and again instructed Finance department in parliament to transfer funds owed to the party to the FNB accounts.
“Total amount received in the FNB accounts from Parliament was R995,669-50.
Consequently the PAC suffered R244million loss as a result of the fraudulent actions by the three accused. The accused are facing charges of fraud, theft and Contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). They are expected to appear in the same court on May 19.”