Cape Town – Former Eskom managing director Dawid Johannes Malherbe has been found guilty of fraud and money laundering in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) said on Monday.
Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Malherbe and a co-accused were arrested in 2013 after a whistleblower alerted the Hawks about irregularities in the tender awarding process at Eskom.
Malherbe awarded tenders to his own company, Energy Utility Services, during his tenure between 2007 and 2009 at Eskom.
"The results of the internal investigations as well as the reports from the external auditors found that Malherbe’s actions of awarding tenders to his company amounted to irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure. At the knowledge of the results, Malherbe immediately resigned," Netshiuanda said.
"The loss which Eskom endured was quantified to be in the region of R65 million. The Asset Forfeiture Unit has thus far managed to recoup approximately R10 million through the attachment of the accused’s assets.”
He said Malherbe’s co-accused was granted immunity from prosecution after he opted to testify against Malherbe.
Sentencing proceedings were scheduled for August 11.
African News Agency