CT official in court for corruption of R70 million
A former City of Cape Town administrator and his wife, as well as the man’s lover, appeared in a Cape Town court for the second time on Thursday.
They were all charged with corruption, conspiracy to commit corruption and money laundering, involving R70 million.
The trio appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
In the dock were Paul Hattingh, 42, of Bothasig, his wife, Simoney Ulanda, 37, and his girlfriend, Carina Esmeralda Plato, 40, of Kalksteenfontein.
They were arrested by the Hawks on January 29, and later released on R50,000 bail each.
The case was postponed to April 28, to enable the three to consult their lawyers.
A statement released by the Hawks described Plato as Hattingh’s “girlfriend”.
The statement alleges that Hattingh, who was also a member of the City’s Tender Board, awarded tenders to a company that he owned, one owned by his wife and one owned by Plato, for the supply to the City of cleaning materials and refuse bags.
The statement said the Hawks became aware of the alleged fraud in 2014, and an investigation led to the arrest of the three.
According to the charge sheet, Hattingh himself owned the company, Cosmic Gold Trading 517, Plato the company Cosmic Gold Trading 532, and Hattingh’s wife the company TTANC Trading CC.
According to prosecutor Ezmeralda Johnson Hattingh himself is charged Hattingh with two counts of corruption, one violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act, one of fraud, one of conspiracy to commit corruption and one of money laundering.
Hattingh’s wife is charged with one count of corruption, one violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act, one of fraud, one of conspiracy to commit corruption and one of money laundering.
Plato is charged with one count of corruption, one violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act, one of fraud, one of conspiracy to commit corruption and one of money laundering.
They were warned to appear in court again on April 28.