A man who had eluded authorities for allegedly swindling Eskom R1.3m has handed himself over to the police. The Hawks were searching for the suspect, Micheal Chimazi, in Mpumalanga.
The 56-year old suspect handed himself in after learning that the Hawks were looking for him, according to the unit’s spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi.
He reported to the Hawks in the presence of his lawyer.
An audit at Eskom revealed that he had been submitting false invoices for a tender the power company awarded him in the 2013/204 financial year.
These invoices, amounting to R3.1 million were cashed into his account. Scrutiny established that the invoices were for work not done.
Chimazi managed to defraud the electricity company through its employee and his girlfriend at the time, Cinderella Moropane.
The girlfriend was arrested soon after the audit. Her case is in court.
On Thursday, Chimazi appeared before a judge at the Nelspruit Regional Court. His case was postponed to April 17 for a bail hearing, but he will remain in police custody until then.
Chimazi is one among other suspects in the case, said Captain Sekgotodi.
