Ayotunde Sunday Olakunde (39) and Kayode Michael Longe (38) Nigerian nationals have been sentenced by the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court on Friday, 09 February 2024 for Acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities – Contravening Section 6 (a),(b) or (c) read with Section 1 and 8 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, no 121 of 1998.
In December 2015 the Department of Justice and Constitutional Developments forensic unit received information on allegations of a fraudulent claim of Guardian Funds from the Master of the High Court North Gauteng. The allegations were prompted by the court proceedings that were in progress in the matter of (Sinenhlanhla Angel Ndlovu verses The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development). The court proceedings came as a result of Sinenhlanhla suing the department for not paying out her guardian funds to her. However, according to The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development the money was paid electronically out to Cebisile Sinenhlanhla Grace Ndlovu on 25 June 2015.
In February 2016 the matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and through investigation it was discovered that money was received by the Guardians fund from the estate of the deceased who died in November 2007 leaving behind a minor daughter by the name of Cebisile Sinenhlanhla Grace Ndlovu.
Investigations also revealed that Cebisile Sinenhlanhla Grace Ndlovu applied for a new birth certificate and changed names to Sinenhlanhla Angel Ndlovu at the age of 12 years. Further investigation revealed that an unknown person stole the identity of Cebisile Sinenhlahla Grace Ndlovu and applied to the Guardian Fund pretending to be the rightful recipient. In April 2015 a First National Bank (FNB) account was opened using the stolen identity of the rightful receipient and an amount of R227 834, 67 was paid into the account. An amount of R100 000 was withdrawn as cash, while a further R35 000 was transferred electronically to Ayotunde Sunday Olakunde’s bank account. Olakunde further transferred an amount of R31 500 to Kayode Michael Longe.
The pair was arrested in November 2017 and February 2018 were Olakunde was granted bail of R2000 while Longe was granted bail of R3000 and on 09 February 2024 both accused were acquitted on Count 1 – fraud read with provisions of Section 103 of Act 51 of 1977, alternative theft and money laundering. The both were found guilty of Acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities – Contravening Section 6 (a),(b) or (c) read with Section 1 and 8 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, no 121 of 1998 and were sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment wholly suspended for 5 years’.
