An ex-employee of the Harmony Gold mining company has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, of which five years are suspended for five years.
Pule Abenego Motlaleng (42), appeared before the Welkom Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 13 February, where he was convicted and sentenced.
During 2019, Harmony Gold became suspicious of employees who brought fake exit medical and rock drill operator certificates to the workplace. They then reported the matter to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Welkom for further probing.
On 26 September 2019 an entrapment operation was conducted by the police and the mining company where two members were sent to Motlaleng to buy a fake medical exit and rock drill operator certificate.
Motlaleng agreed to arrange forged documents at a price of R750. He was then arrested by the police after he arranged provided the documents and received the money.
Motlaleng will effectively serve seven years’ imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
