Cape Town – Two former officials from the Beitbridge border in Zimbabwe have been found guilty of fraud and corruption for aiding a truck carrying semi-manufactured tobacco products to pass through the border into South Africa without proper clearance or documentation.
The Musina Regional Court convicted Nthapeleng Munyai and former clearing agent Tsumbedzo Nemaangani of the charges, reports said.
The incident occurred in March 2016 when the truck was stopped at a weighbridge and the driver presented forged documents.
IOL quoted Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa as saying “the truck was diverted back to Beitbridge Border Post for physical inspection after stopping at a weighbridge, where the driver presented falsified documents that did not match the truck’s details.
“During the physical inspection, both the clearing agent and the truck driver fled the scene, prompting the filing of a fraud case at the Musina police station”.
Upon further inspection, tobacco products worth over R6 million were discovered inside the truck, News24 reported.
The case was handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, leading to the arrest of Munyai and Nemaangani.
Munyai was convicted of fraud, forgery, and three counts of corruption, while Nemaangani was convicted of fraud.
The sentencing will take place on 13 September.
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Compiled Betha Madhomu
