Cape town - A corrupt procurement officer formerly in the employ of a food company in Lambert’s Bay, who was due for retirement in December after 44 years service, has forfeited half of his R2-million pension benefits as compensation for the company’s R2,6 million loss.
In addition, Daniel Jacobus Poggenpoel, 63, a married father of four, was jailed for five years on Wednesday, when he appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court before magistrate Constance Nziweni.
He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of corruption involving a loss of R2,6 million, suffered by Lamberts Bay Foods (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Oceana Group.
In addition to the prison sentence, he received a second five-year jail sentence that was suspended for five years on condition that he testifies at the trial of his co-accused, Suman Panday.
The proceedings took the form of a plea bargain, negotiated by defence attorney Eben Klue with prosecutor Jannie Knipe.
According to court papers, Poggenpoel abused his position of trust as procurement officer, tasked with the purchase of LBF’s plastic packaging requirements.
Poggenpoel registered the company, Blakey Plastics, owned by Panday, as an LBF vendor, and between the years 2009 and 2014 received bribes totalling R182 000 from Panday.
In turn, Poggenpoel ensured LBF’s purchase of plastic packaging products from Blakey, at prices that were R2,6 million in excess of what LBF would otherwise have paid, and in excess of LBF’s requirements.
Aggravating factors were that Poggenpoel received the bribes over an extended period of time, during which Poggenpoel had had ample time to reflect on his actions, but had continued to receive the bribes.
The magistrate declared the sentence fair and just, and also declared Poggenpoel unfit to possess a firearm – normal after a conviction for an offence involving dishonesty.
African News Agency