The Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court sentenced 46-year-old Rakesh Maharaj to eight years imprisonment for his role in a multi-million rand fraud and corruption scheme.
Maharaj, who was convicted on 103 counts of fraud, 102 counts of corruption, and one count of money laundering, had been employed as a logistics manager at Consulens Health Care Solution PTY between January 2015 and September 2017.
The court found that during his tenure, Maharaj colluded with accomplices to manipulate stock levels in the company’s system, creating false product demands to justify unnecessary stock purchases. This scheme involved the creation of fake invoices and delivery notes, resulting in fraudulent payments of R24 million to suppliers.
The case was brought to light after a fraud and corruption complaint was filed at the Cato Manor police station. The case was then assigned to the Hawks' Durban Serious Corruption Investigation team. Maharaj and his accomplices were arrested in November 2021.
Maharaj received a 10-year sentence for fraud, with two years suspended for three years. He was also sentenced to 10 years for corruption, with two years suspended, and five years for money laundering, which was wholly suspended for three years. Since the sentences will run concurrently, Maharaj will serve eight years in prison.
The trial of Maharaj's accomplices, Oleena Dauchand, 51, and Debi George, 61, is set to continue on Wednesday October 30.
KwaZulu-Natal’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Provincial Head, Major General Lesetja Senona, praised the investigation team, saying: “This sentence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our members in the fight against corruption.”
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