Kedibone Serumula (36) was found guilty for corruption and sentenced by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 12 October 2022.
Between 2015 and 2016 Serumula who was employed by the Department of Home Affairs in Lephalale sold identity documents and birth certificates to foreign nationals who were in the country illegally.
The court heard that the documents were sold between R2000-00 and R2500-00.
These corruption activities were reported to Home Affairs investigators and subsequently a case of corruption was opened. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation members were entrusted with the investigation of the case and it resulted in the arrest of the accused in 2020.
After a few court appearances, the accused was released on bail until he was found guilty and sentenced as follows:
Count 1: Corruption- Sentenced to six (6) years imprisonment which is wholly suspended for five (5) years.
Count 2: Contravention of the Immigration Act- sentenced to eight years imprisonment which is wholly suspended for five years.
Count 3: Corruption- sentenced to six (6) years imprisonment which is also wholly suspended for five (5) years.
Although the accused will not serve a jail term but the message was sent out there, that the Hawks are busy rooting out corruption within the government.
The accused was ordered not to commit similar offences during the suspension period.
