MPUMALANGA – The accused, Mathilda Shongwe (35) was found guilty and sentenced by the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday, 25 August 2022 for money laundering after she was arrested by the Nelspruit based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Court on 16 August 2021. Shongwe was sentenced to five years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years.

The sentence followed after the arrest of the two accused, Rejoice Sindisile Magagula (40) who is the director/ member/ servant of the company, Fundzani Trading cc and Mathilda Shongwe who is the beneficiary. The duo unlawfully claimed undue funds by submitting false tax returns on behalf of the company to the South African Revenue Services during 2021.

The total amount of R 203 681-49 was paid from the Revenue Services on 06 January 2021 for the tax season 2015/2016, into the business account of the company and was further transferred into accused’ personal bank accounts, prejudicing SARS an actual loss of R 203 681-49.

Magagula further transferred R41 200-00 to Shongwe’s personal bank account as a beneficiary. The case against Shongwe was finalised hence the sentence while the case against Rejoice Sindisile Magagula was postponed to 14 October 2022 for sentencing.

Source: South African Police Service