A 43-year-old Northern Cape man has been added as an additional accused to a case of alleged money laundering exceeding more than half a million rands.
Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson W/O Nomthandazo Mnisi said Saal Andrico Brenton, 43, made a brief appearance before the Prieska Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He is facing charges of five counts of money laundering.
Mnisi said Brenton was arrested on the same day of his court appearance by the Hawks at his residence.
Co-accused nabbed in December
She said Brenton will be joining his co-accused Schalk Pienaar, 37, Leolene Pienaar, 34, and Patricia Booysen, 34. They were all arrested on December 18 2024, on 39 counts of corruption, 48 counts of fraud and 78 counts of money laundering.
Mnisi said both Pienaar and Booysen were later released on bail.
According to Mnisi, allegations are that between April 2020 and October 2021, the main accused, Schalk Pienaar, and his two co-accused, defrauded the GWK agricultural company to the tune of R705 005.50.
“Mr Pienaar was employed as a supervisor at a fuel station. He fraudulently registered his wife as a supplier at GWK fuel station. The registration was done without declaration of the relationship between the two as required by GWK policy.
“Schalk Pienaar colluded with his colleague, administration clerk Patricia Booysen, to submit falsified invoices. Subsequent to payments into the wife’s account, some funds were allegedly transferred into Booysen’s bank account,” said Mnisi.
Money laundering
“Further investigation revealed that Mr Brenton received proceeds of alleged crime. And he became liable of five counts of money laundering. Mr Schalk Pienaar tendered his resignation before the matter could be handed over for investigation. Ms Booysen’s employment was terminated,” said Mnisi.
Mnisi said Brenton was released on R300 bail. His case was postponed to Tuesday, May 27 2025 for a pre-trial conference with the other three accused.
