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Two former Nedbank employees appeared in court on Wednesday with 12 other co-accused in a multi-million-rand bank fraud case.
The Hawks said the state alleges that the former bank employees, Nicolette de Villiers and Keitumetse Mathimbi, made unlawful payments of over R157 million from “suspense accounts” to their co-accused.
Hawks national spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said the amounts transferred ranged from R50 000 to R20 million.
She said 14 individuals and seven associated entities "are involved in the matter”.
Mogale said the individuals appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in the Palm Ridge magistrates court on Wednesday.
"They face a staggering total of 224 counts of fraud relating to a series of unlawful banking activities alleged to have occurred between July 2018 and January 2023."
Mogale said the charges arise from serious allegations arising out of the actions of the sixth accused, Nicolette De Villiers, a former forensic investigator with Nedbank's Group Crime, Forensic, and Security (GCFSC) division.
"It is alleged that De Villiers issued instructions for the unauthorized transfer of over R157 million from Nedbank’s suspense account into the accounts of her alleged co-conspirators and various associated companies, including Ivy League Group, Prometal Projects, Formosa Flora, Kitchen at Cost, and Gideon Inno Textiles.
"Multiple individuals among the accused are registered as directors and members of these companies.
"A suspense account is utilised by Nedbank to secure funds that are currently under investigation. Numerous account holders at Nedbank have reported significant unlawful transfers from their accounts, leading to investigations by the bank," Mogale said.
All the accused, except one, were granted bail between R5000 and R20 000.
One accused, Yu-Wei Fang, of Ekhuruleni was remanded in custody, and will apply for bail on 7 November.
The case was postponed to 29 January 2025.
