KWAZULU-NATAL – On Tuesday 14 February 2023, Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court convicted and sentenced Cindy Saunders (37) to nine years direct imprisonment for fraud, corruption and money laundering.

Saunders was an employee of Nicholson Shipping company in 2018. She colluded with Terrence Raju (46) who was working for a transport company. The two defrauded Nicholson Shipping and another transport company more than R15 million.

Saunders and Raju submitted fictitious invoices as well as proof of deliveries relating to the shipping of containers. It was later established that no services were rendered and a case of fraud was reported to the police station. The case docket was allocated to the Hawks members from Durban Serious Corruption Investigation for intensive investigation.

They were both arrested and charged accordingly. The two appeared in court several times until Saunders pleaded guilty and was sentenced. Raju will appear in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court for trial on 24 February 2023.

Source: South African Police Service