Not yet a member?Join now!|Lost password
Department of Labour - Republic of South Africa
Department of Labour - Republic of South Africa
01/22/2013 | Press release
Department’s manager in risk unit told the Court that fraud physio Sehunoe was paid in lump sums
distributed by noodls on 01/22/2013 11:30
A senior manager in Risk Management Unit at the Department of Labour's (DoL) Compensation Fund (CF) told the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court that a spread sheet in the department's possession showed that self-confessed fraud physiotherapist Jurry Sehunoe (34) had submitted various small claims which were consolidated and paid to him in lump sums.
The manager, said one of the lump sums, which was a consolidation of small claims paid to Sehunoe was that of R206 000,12 that was paid on 9 February 2009.
"The system has been designed to roll-out claims and pay in large sums. We do not pay individual claims, unless the claim was one. In addition, once the system has processed a transaction for payment, the claiming medical practitioners are sent a remittance that will explain a break-down on how transactions were settled," the manager testified.
The manager in the Risk Unit was testifying in the on-going matter of Sehunoe after the defence had requested the Department of Labour to explain the value of amounts involved in the matter as contained in a spread sheet that was submitted to Court as an exhibit.
Sehunoe, from Rustenburg in the North West Province, confessed in October 2011 to defrauding the Department of Labour's CF R2,1-million. He pleaded guilty to 15 counts of fraud and 26 counts of money laundering. The fraudster is out on a bail of R3000.
He pleaded guilty to siphoning the department by submitting fraudulent claims to the department for patients that he did not treat. The fraudster was allegedly recruited by members of a syndicate, which allegedly included former employees of Department of Labour's Compensation Fund, to submit fraudulent claims and banking details.
The syndicate is alleged to have processed the fictitious claims and its members would later meet and share their loot.
In the matter Sehunoe was originally charged with two co-defendants - Maxwell Ramaphosa and Samuel Mfeleng - who are both former employees of the Department of Labour.
The case of Ramaphosa and Mfeleng was in a separation of trial transferred to the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. The duo has since pleaded not guilty in the matter. They are out on a bail of R3000.
Ramaphosa and Mfeleng are also entangled in two other alleged fraud cases against the department, which are currently on trial.
Magistrate N. Setshogoe postponed the matter to February 18 to allow for submission of heads of argument by both State and defence in mitigation ahead of sentencing.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the administration of Department of Labour. The Fund provides compensation to workers for occupational injuries and diseases sustained thereof.
Issued by: Mokgadi Pela
Acting Departmental Spokesman
082 808 2168
