The Kriel regional court on April 25 found former Kriel power station finance manager Sifiso Jacob Masina guilty of fraud and theft. He was convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of fraud and theft during the period of suspension.
This followed a lengthy investigation by the Hawks' Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime unit.
The Hawks report that, from May 2011 to February 2012, Masina made payments to two companies without them having rendered any service to Eskom. The two companies were found to be owned by Masina and a family member.
Owing to this conduct, Eskom suffered a loss of R513 830.
Masina was also ordered to pay R513 830 back to Eskom.