Africa-Press – South-Africa. A Free State Department of Health official has been ordered to pay a fine of R150 000 after he was convicted of three counts of theft on Friday.
Acting Judge Mothinyane sentenced Bassie Andrews, 54, to a three-year suspended sentence, on the condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during that period.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said Andrews was further ordered to pay a fine of R150 000 – R50 000 immediately, and the rest in monthly instalments of R4 000 for 25 months.
“The court heard that between 30 October 2014 and 8 October 2015, Andrews, who was working for the department as a chief artisan, was responsible for securing service providers for services that were needed by the department,” Shuping said.
He was also responsible for processing and approving payments to the service providers once they had done their jobs.
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A Hawks investigation report revealed that, between 2014 and 2015, Andrews processed and approved payments to service providers who did not render any services to the department.
He generated payments of R397 000 to the service providers without any invoice being submitted to the department.
He was charged along with 18 other accused, including officials from the department, and directors of companies, but they were acquitted.
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