Durban - Five Chatsworth relatives admitted in the Commercial Crimes Court last week that they helped a Durban-based Chinese businessman transfer more than $10 million (about R135m) home illegally.
The accused - Mohammed Ebrahim, Bilkis Karim, Rohaida Valley, Ebrahim Cassim and Iqbal Hoosen - who are all unemployed, pleaded guilty to charges relating to breaching the SA Reserve Bank Act.
They allegedly moved large sums in multiple transactions.
They confirmed all the transactions had been made at a foreign exchange office in Westwood Mall, Sherwood.
The businessman, whose identity is known to the Sunday Tribune but cannot be revealed due to ongoing police investigations, is legally only allowed to move R1m a year out of the country.
The businessman, who is involved in imports and exports, allegedly asked an employee to help him move the money, and the worker turned to the family for help with the transfers. They said they got R150 for each transaction and listed “giftâ€ù as the reason for the transfers.
Represented by attorney Amith Luckan, the accused entered into a plea bargain with the State.
Cassim and Ebrahim received a R10 000 fine or six months’ imprisonment, suspended for five years.
Valley and Karim received R20 000 fines each or 12 months in jail, suspended for five years.
They appeared before magistrate Judy Naidoo.
Hoosen appeared before magistrate Christobel Mazibuko and got a R10 000 fine or six months’ imprisonment, suspended for five years.
Two more family members are to appear in court this week on the same charges.
Sunday Tribune