Two former employees of the Isipingo Roadworthiness Test Station near Durban were sentenced to an effective four years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of 676 charges of fraud.
Two former employees of the Isipingo Roadworthiness Test Station near Durban were this week sentenced to an effective four years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of 676 charges of fraud.
Mahendra Ramsunder, 32, and Venokanthan Perumal Govender, 22, issued certificates of roadworthiness without the vehicles undergoing the necessary tests. They were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with three years suspended, so they will effectively serve four years without the option of a fine.
“In many instances, the vehicles were not even present at the test centre when the roadworthiness certificates were issued,” KZN transport department spokesman Logan Maistry said.
Maistry said KZN’s MEC of transport S’bu Ndebele welcomed the sentence. “He hopes it will act as a deterrent to other people who are involved in corruption and fraud related to driver’s licences and roadworthiness certificates,” said Maistry.
Captain Louis Helberg, who testified at the sentencing, told CARtoday.com that the pair were paid between R300 and R350 for each vehicle. “Out of the total of 676, 376 fraudulent certificates were issued for public transport vehicles and 300 were related to private cars,” said Helberg.
