Mashamba Media
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The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Gerber welcomed the additional fifteen years imprisonment imposed on a prisoner already serving an existing 36 years imprisonment for murder. The swindler embezzeled more than R1million from innocent victims.
A company called Trillion Dollar Legacy (PTY) Ltd, accused number one (1) and Sandile Kagiso Montsoe (34), accused number two (2), were found guilty and sentenced by the Evander Regional Court on Tuesday, 16 July 2024 for fraud , contravention of Sec 7 rea with Sections 1, 8 and 36 of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Act 37 of 2002 as well as Contravention of Section 43(2)(a) read with Sections 1, 111, 119 and 43(1), (3),(4) and (6) of the Consumer Protection Act 51 of 1977.
On Friday, 22 August 2022, the suspects appeared at Evander Magistrate’s Court after they were served with J175 for fraud charges. The summons followed after the accused were linked with fraud which was committed between April 2016 and August 2016.
The accused operated an investment scheme defrauding victims the amount in excess of one million rand. A total of 120 charges were brought against the accused.
The matter was referred to the Hawks Middelburg based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for exploration.
Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said during investigation, it was established that Mantsoe tricked the victims into investing money by providing fake information on investment. One hundred
and ninety (119) victims invested money at Trillion Dollar Legacy.
Sekgotodi said investigation was finalised and J175 was executed on the accused while in prison. Investigation preceeded until they were found guilty and sentenced of Tuesday, 16 July 2024 on 120 charges as follows:
Accused no.1
Counts 1-59
Counts taken together for the purpose of sentence
R600 000.00 fine suspended for 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of contravention of sec 7 of Act 37 of 2002 committed during the period of suspension.
Count 60
R20 000.00 fine suspended for 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of the contravention of sec 43(2) of Act 68 of 2008 committed during the period of suspension.
Counts 61-119
Counts taken together for the purpose of sentence.
R600 000.00 fine suspended for 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of fraud committed during the period of suspension
Count 120
R400 000.00 fine suspended for 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of fraud committed during the period of suspension.
Accused no. 2
Counts 1-59
Counts taken together for the purpose of sentence
10 years direct imprisonment.
Count 60
12 months direct imprisonment.
Counts 61-119
Counts taken together for the purpose of sentence
10 years direct imprisonment.
Count 120
4 years direct imprisonment.
“With regard to accused 2 it is ordered in terms of sec 280(2) of the CPA , Act 51 of 1977, that the sentences for counts 1-59 and 61-199 run concurrently.
“The effective imprisonment for accused 2 is therefore 15 years direct imprisonment.
The sentence for accused 2 to run concurrently with existing sentence of 36 years imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend in Gauteng during April 2017,” said Sekgotodi.
The Provincial Head further applauded the Investigation team and the Prosecution Authorities for ensuring that justice prevailed.
He further urged the public to refrain from investing their life savings with companies or persons who promise unrealistic returns on their investment.
