OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The Hawks Acting Provincial Head in the Western Cape, Brigadier Mushavhaduvha Ramovha welcomed the sentence by the Oudtshoorn Regional Court against an official from Oudtshoorn Municipality.

Frikkie van Staden (55), the municipality's road parks superintendent, was sentenced yesterday and will effectively serve 4 years' imprisonment for fraud to the tune of over R1.9-million.

The Hawks Serious Commercial Crime investigation team in George revealed that between 2010 and 2014, van Staden - who was responsible for the maintenance of roads, among other things - instructed his sister-in-law to register a company under her name. He then took over the company’s operation to obtain contracts within the municipality without the knowledge of his sister-in-law.
 
Van Staden was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for corruption, of which 3 years was suspended on condition that he is not convicted of similar crimes during the period of the suspension. He was further sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment for contravening the POCA Act.

A further 5 years' imprisonment for fraud, wholly suspended for 5 years with condition, was additionally imposed on him.
 
Van Staden will effectively serve 4 years' direct imprisonment.

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