The HOD of Northern Cape Health, who was recently convicted and sentenced for fraud and corruption, might find himself in trouble again.

Dr Dion Theys was among nine government officials who were recently arrested by the Hawks for tender fraud worth R16  million, involving personal protective equipment (PPE). 

The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said Theys (56) and Chief Financial Officer Mosimanegape Gaborone (54) appeared with the co-accused in the Kimberley District Court. 

Senokoatsane said their bail applications were opposed and they were remanded in custody while waiting for the judgment to be delivered on Monday (28/8). Only seven suspects were released on bail ranging from R50 000 to R5 000 respectively.

“The arrest and appearance of Dr Dion Theys came a week after he was convicted and sentenced by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court (on 16/8) on a charge of contravening the provisions of Section 86(1) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), emanating from three leasing contracts amounting to more than R13 million."

The accused are facing charges of contravening provisions of Section 86(1) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, corruption, and money laundering.

#sapsHAWKS Northern Cape: PPE tender fraud related arrests: 9 Suspects and 2 company Directors were arrested by the #Hawks on J50 warrants of arrest. Among the arrested is the acting Accounting Officer of Northern Cape Department of Health. The Department suffered a loss of over… pic.twitter.com/GIltNi8Xdy

— SA Police Service ???? (@SAPoliceService) August 23, 2023

Apart from the HOD and CFO, the other accused are:

• the Director of Supply Chain Management, Mr Montgomery Lifa Faas (49);
• the Deputy Director of Finance, Mr Victor Nyokong (39);
• the Director of Administration and Supply Chain Management, Mr Siyabulela Booi (38);
• the Director of MKV Investment (Pty) Ltd, Mr Kenyaditswe McDonald Visser (44);
• the Assistant Director: Communicable Diseases, Mr Goitsemodimo Dibueng Moseki (50);
• the retired Deputy Director Nursing: Communicable Diseases, Ms Elizabeth Dibueng Manyetsa (63);
• the Director of Stilofirn (Pty) Ltd, Ms Kelebogile Agnes Bogatso (58);
• MKV Investment (Pty) Ltd; and
• Stilofirn (Pty) Ltd.

“The accused were arrested after multi-disciplinary investigations by the DPCI and the SIU, working closely with the NPA's Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit and Asset Forfeiture Unit. The case derives from PPE contracts that were unlawfully awarded and paid to companies by the Department of Health without following proper procurement processes, amounting to more than R16 million.”

Montgomery Lifa Faas, Siyabulela Booi, and Kelebogile Agnes Bogatso were each granted bail of R10 000, Kenyaditswe McDonald Visser was granted bail of R50 000, Goitsemodimo Dibueng Moseki and Elizabeth Dibueng Manyetsa were each granted bail of R5 000.

The court has set tight bail conditions for the accused.

The magistrate instructed the accused to surrender their passports to the authorities, not intimidate witnesses, and not interfere with the witnesses. The case was postponed to 16 October in the Kimberley District Court.

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