Former Ditsobotla Local Municipality chief financial officer, Radikashu Isaac Tsie has appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate's Court on charges of fraud.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said Tsie was arrested on Wednesday morning by members of the Mahikeng-based serious commercial crime investigation unit in Lichtenburg.
“His arrest follows an investigation into allegations of fraud relating to the procurement of legal practitioner's services for Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
“Investigation revealed that in May 2021, Tsie and his co-accused Thouret Mampe Thabe Tiro, the director of Tiro Attorneys (PTY) LTD and Tsietsi Isaac Shema, the former acting director of Corporate Services at the Ditsobotla Local Municipality, connived to defraud the municipality of over R460 000,00 for services which were never rendered,” said Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, North West provincial spokesperson of the Hawks.
Tiro and Shema were arrested last week.
The investigation revealed that Tiro Attorneys submitted invoices to the municipality for legal services which the company claimed to have rendered.
Tsie and Shema allegedly approved payment for services that were never rendered.
The Hawks said the trio is facing four counts of fraud and an alternative charge of theft.
Tsie made a brief court appearance on Wednesday and was released on R5,000 bail.
“He will join his co-accused when they reappear in court on October 4 2024. Tiro and Shema are out on R8,000 bail each,” said Mathebula.
The North West head of the Hawks, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari have welcomed the latest arrest.
The Hawks and the prosecutions boss in the province have commended the collaborative work between the investigators and the prosecution team in ensuring that the accused people are brought to justice.
Last week, IOL reported that Tiro and Shema appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday facing the fraud charges.
The Hawks said the two had been detained earlier on Thursday, in Lichtenburg.
IOL