Convicted murderer, Sandile Mantsoe, currently serving a 36-year sentence for killing his girlfriend, has been found guilty of multiple fraud offences, adding years to his existing prison term.
Mantsoe, 34, embezzled more than R1 million from 119 innocent victims.
The accused operated an investment scheme, defrauding victims of an amount in excess of R1 million. A total of 120 charges were brought against him and the company Trillion Dollar Legacy (Pty) Ltd.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Nicolas Gerber, welcomed the additional 15 years imprisonment imposed on Mantsoe.
The company Trillion Dollar Legacy, accused number one, and Mantsoe, accused number two, were found guilty and sentenced by the Evander Regional Court on July 16 for fraud, contravention of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary as well as Contravention of the Consumer Protection Act 51 of 1977.
On August 22, 2022, the accused appeared in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on fraud charges.
The summons followed after the accused were linked to fraud committed between April and August 2016.
The matter was referred to the Hawks’ Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for investigation.
It was established that Mantsoe tricked the victims into investing money by providing fake information on investments. About 119 victims invested money in Trillion Dollar Legacy.
The investigation was finalised and the J175 was executed on the accused while in prison. The probe proceeded until they were found guilty and sentenced this week on 120 charges as follows:
The company was fined for committing counts 1-59.
The counts were taken together for sentencing with a R600 000 fine imposed on the firm, suspended for 5 years if the accused is not found guilty of the same offence.
On count 60, a R20 000 fine was imposed on the company, suspended for 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of the same offence.
On counts 61-119, a fine of R600 000 was imposed on the company, suspended for 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of fraud during this time.
On count 120, a fine of R400 000 was suspended for 5 years on condition that the company is not found guilty of fraud during the suspension period.
On counts 1-59, Mantsoe was sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment; his conviction on count 60 led to 12 months’ direct imprisonment. On counts 61-119, Mantsoe was sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment; and on counts 120 to 4 years’ direct imprisonment.
It was ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said: “The effective imprisonment for accused 2 (Mantsoe) is therefore 15 years’ direct imprisonment. The sentence for accused 2 will run concurrently with the existing sentence of 36 years imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend in Gauteng during April 2017.”
Sekgotodi said the provincial head applauded the investigation team and the prosecution authorities for ensuring justice prevailed.
“He urged the public to refrain from investing their life savings with companies or persons who promise unrealistic returns on their investment,” said Sekgotodi.