Hawks nab NW driving school tender fraud suspect
The Hawks have arrested a suspect for allegedly defrauding the state R21 million through a driving school tender in North West.
Caswell Mthombeni was appointed by North West Department of Transport and Community Safety in 2015 to undertake a R21 million road safety project which included the training of unemployed matriculants and empowerment of accredited driving schools.
Over 40 driving schools signed contracts with the suspect’s company as beneficiaries of the programme.
They used their own money to participate in the programme, believing the suspect will compensate them.
However, the suspect allegedly failed to honour his contractual agreement with the driving schools and spent the money on himself.
Hawks spokesperson Tinyiko Mathebula says he 52-year-old is facing charges of fraud and money laundering.
"He was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation assisted by Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and Tactical Operations Management Section on Monday in Pretoria. He has since appeared in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court.
"He was granted R50 000 bail and his matter postponed to 27 July 2023 pending further investigation."
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