Travelgate accused pleads guilty

[Peter7]

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1150380541378B263

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1952303,00.html

A travel operator accused in the multi-million rand Travelgate case has entered into a plea bargain and will testify against her co-accused, the Scorpions said on Thursday.

"The evidence that the State will present will now be enriched by having an insider explain to the court exactly how the crimes were planned and executed," he said.

"The State case against the accused, including the vast volumes of documentary evidence, will therefore be supplemented by Ms Lamalia's viva voce evidence.

"This development, we believe, will make the State case more compelling against the remaining accused."

Lamalia, who appeared in the Bellville Regional Court, had admitted her guilt in committing fraud of R650 000 on behalf of Members of Parliament, and deriving R78 000 in personal benefits.

She was one of five travel agency bosses and employees due to appear alongside 25 former and serving MPs in the Cape High Court on July 31.

The Scorpions also say vouchers were altered to correspond with fictitious information recorded on tickets, and tickets were issued to non-MPs using the MPs' own details.

Ticket numbers were manually changed, cut and pasted on ticket copies submitted to Parliament, and fictitious invoices were prepared to accommodate them. - Sapa

Would be interesting to see how this pans out. I guess the tax payers still lose out on their R24 million though?!