Former Justice employee handed 3-year sentence for fraud
A former official from the Department of Justice, who took out insurance policies on children he never had, will spend three years behind bars.
The Durban Regional Court this week convicted and sentenced Siyabonga Ndwandwe for insurance fraud worth more than R96 500.
Hawks spokesperson Simphiwe Mhlongo said the 35-year-old was employed as an administration clerk in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
He said in 2017, Ndwandwe opened funeral policies with five different insurance companies.
Three non-existing children were listed as his dependents.
"He covered three non-existing children as his dependents. The following year, Ndwandwe submitted claims citing that his children were deceased. An amount of R96 500 was paid to him, and one of the insurance companies smelt a rat.
"As a result, an internal investigation was conducted and a case of fraud was reported at Durban Central police station. The case docket was allocated to the Hawks members from Durban Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further investigation."
He was arrested in 2020.
He was released on bail and appeared in court several times until he was found guilty.
