On Wednesday 27 September 2023, Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court convicted and sentenced Rajkapoor Lukraj (64) for 160 counts of fraud.
During 2007, the Department of Public Works awarded 39 projects to two entities called Quantum Leap Investments 24 (PTY) LTD and Dream Trading 562 CC. Both entities were operating under the control of the accused and were tendering for the same work. It was discovered that signatures on tender documents were also forged and submitted to the department.
Cases of fraud were reported in various police stations and case dockets were allocated to the Hawks members from Durban Serious Corruption Investigation. Lukraj was arrested and charged for fraud of cover quoting as well as fronting to the value of R124 million.
He appeared in court several times until he was convicted and sentenced yesterday. Lukraj was sentenced to pay a fine of R250 000.00 or five years imprisonment. In addition, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment which is suspended for 5 years.
He was further sentenced to pay another fine of R250 000.00 or five years imprisonment. He further received another ten-year suspended sentence. In other counts, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment which is suspended for five years.
The payment of the fines is deferred for sixty days. During the sentencing, the court also granted a confiscating order of R3.5 million.
The KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Provincial Head, Major General (Dr) Lesetja Senona welcomed the sentencing of the accused and applauded the team for the good work.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48646.
