Covid-19 TERS fund fraudster pleads guilty

GAUTENG – The Gauteng Hawks’ Serious Corruption and Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) team succeeded in getting a confiscation order and a pre- sentencing argument for the two accused Treasure Moremi (36) and Denmag Company represented by Moremi as the Director for allegedly defrauding Covid-19 Temporary Relief Scheme Fund (TERS) of approximately R10-million in October 2020.

The trio was arrested in 7 October 2021 when a warrant for their arrest was executed in Polokwane following an investigation which started around March 2021. The probe uncovered that during the period of April and June 2020, a company known as Denmag Trading directed by both husband and wife, Levy Moremi (36), Treasure Moremi (34) and Anna Moremi (36) (sister to Levy) applied for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) relief TERS for 508 ghost employees.

It is alleged that the application was successfully processed and a sum of approximately R10-million was paid into the company’s account wherein it was laundered into various bank accounts by the trio for self-gain.

The trio appeared in the Polokwane Commercial Specialised Crimes Court on the same day of the apprehension. The court granted both Treasure and Levy R10 000-00 bail and Anna R5000-00 bail. The matter was postponed to 21 October 2021 and a preservation order was granted in the same year.

In 2022 10 June, a forfeiture order was granted and on Wednesday 13 July 2022, a confiscation order to the value of approximately R6 million was granted by the court to confiscate the accused’s’ assets namely a Toyota Quantum and an Isuzu truck. The case was withdrawn against Anna and Levy after Treasure pleaded guilty on the company and the whole fraud case matter.

On Wednesday, 20 July 2022, Moremi and Denmag Company will be appearing in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court for a presentencing argument and report.

Source: South African Police Service