Hawks arrest businessman for mine tender scam
ATOK
Limpopo businessman, Robin William Southon (43) was on Tuesday morning arrested for defrauding a victim of R1.9 million in tender scam.
“It is alleged that Southon approached a victim who is also a businessman based in Polokwane area and identified himself as one of the senior officials at Bokoni Atok mine. It is further alleged that the accused proposed a business partnership and promised to award him a tender worth R11 million at the mine. The said tender was for installing new pipes and drilling new boreholes for the community,” revealed Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke.
Maluleke said the victim was requested to pay R1.9 million in order to get a tender. The requested money was reportedly paid to the accused but no tender was awarded.
A case was opened with the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation and it was discovered that the accused was not employed by the mine, he was just a scammer.
After a successful investigation, a warrant of arrest was authorised against the accused. The accused has since appeared in the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and he was granted R10 000-00 bail. His case was postponed to 23 February 2023.
