Sinethemba Sweetbirth Mdutyana, a 37-year-old Eastern Cape woman, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment or a R10,000 fine for fraud linked to a Road Accident Fund (RAF) claim worth approximately R1.7m.
Mdutyana was convicted of fraud after submitting a false loss of support claim on behalf of her two minor children to the RAF, according to Hawks spokesman Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana.
Investigation Reveals False Claim
The investigation revealed that Mdutyana had fraudulently lodged a loss of support claim on behalf of her two minor children by misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding a fatal accident that occurred in January 2022 on the N2 near Kwelerha.
The incident was presented as a hit-and-run collision involving an unidentified truck, but the RAF picked up a red flag on the claim submitted and it was repudiated and handed over to the Hawks.
False Corroborating Affidavits
The investigation further revealed that two associates submitted false corroborating affidavits in support of the claim, but the statements were found to be inconsistent with credible evidence obtained from police officials and emergency medical personnel who attended the scene.
A list of key findings from the investigation includes:
- The deceased had initially been recorded as an unidentified person.
- The RAF was nearly prejudiced of approximately R1.7m.
- Mdutyana was traced and arrested in Butterworth after meticulous probing by the Hawks.
Mdutyana made several court appearances until her sentencing, during which she was ordered to pay a fine of R10,000, with R2,000 paid immediately, and the balance to be paid in installments of R1,000 for a period of five months, as stated on the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development website.
The sentencing of Mdutyana serves as a warning to those who would attempt to defraud the RAF, and highlights the importance of the work done by the Hawks in investigating and prosecuting such cases.</p)
