NORTHERN CAPE – On Thursday, 2 March 2023, the Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crimes Court convicted and sentenced three men for six counts of corruption and six counts of money laundering. The trio, George Wheeler (62), Johannes Lodewykus Kruger (62) and Rudolph Kemp (49), had been served with summons in June 2021 by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in Kimberley.
The investigation by the Hawks revealed that between 2014 and 2016, the accused from Griekwaland Wes Koperatief Beperk (GWK) colluded with an employee from AG Equipment Direct LLC (AG) to inflate prices when quoting for equipment. As a result, the accused defrauded GWK an amount of R5 million which they shared amongst themselves.
The men eventually pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced accordingly. George Wheeler forfeited his pension to the amount of R438 410.93 to the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA) and was required to pay an additional R200 000.00 to CARA. Johannes Lodewykus Kruger forfeited his pension in the sum of R833 195.34 with an additional R200 000.00 to be paid into CARA on or before December 2023. Rudolf Kemp forfeited his pension in the sum of R531 269.36 with an additional R200 000.00 to be paid on or before December 2023.
The three were each sentenced to ten years imprisonment which is wholly suspended for five years and will further serve three-year correctional supervision.
The conviction sends a clear message that money laundering and corruption will not be tolerated in the Northern Cape and beyond. It is hoped that the sentences will serve as a deterrent to any other individuals who may be considering engaging in similar criminal activities.
Tags: AG AG Equipment Direct LLC Douglas Griekwaland Wes Koperatief Beperk GWK Kimberley