Two suspects, Michelle Pillay (37) and Khatiya Patel (42) appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 2 February 2022, facing charges of fraud and money laundering.
It is alleged that between 2012 and 2019, Techno Genius Director, Adriaan Pillay (38) and his business partner Mohamed Ismail Admjee (44) , whom at the time was a Cell C executive, reported to have colluded and inflated rates for IT and network services required by Cell C which resulted in an actual loss of over R130 million.
Further investigation revealed that Patel allegedly colluded and inflated rates for the IT and network services rendered to Cell C while working as an Administrator at Techno Genius on the same period. However, Michelle Pillay reportedly received approximately R3 million into her bank account as proceeds of crime.
A warrant of arrest was issued for their apprehension. The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Johannesburg successfully traced Michelle Pillay at her Sandton residence yesterday which resulted to her apprehension.
Meanwhile Patel handed herself in accompanied by her legal representative and charged.
During the pair’s appearance this morning, the court granted both a R30 000-00 bail each.
The case is postponed to 16 February 2022 for docket disclosure and will be joining their husbands, Adriaan Pillay and Mohamed Ismail Adamjee, and their co-accused Manuel Reimaldo Teixeira (62), and Lufuno Lesly Nevhutalu (59) who were arrested on a similar fraud case involving Cornerstone and Blue Kit IT, in January and April 2021 and had since been granted a R50 000-00 bail each.
Investigation continues and more arrests cannot be ruled out.
