IOL Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney received a 10-year prison sentence for fraudulently obtaining SASSA pension payouts while managing a successful company. Picture: File image
Image: File image
A 69-year-old Gauteng woman has been jailed for 10 years direct imprisonment for defrauding the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) while her business forked in millions.
Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney was sentenced in the Pretoria North Regional Court on Tuesday.
She was convicted on five charges that include perjury, fraud and theft.
According to the IDAC Sigamoney defrauded SASSA by receiving pension payouts every month while employed as a sole director of a company.
The court heard that on April 13, 2017, Sigamoney applied for an old age grant with SASSA, attaching a supporting affidavit wherein she stated that she has never worked for 20 years.
On 18 April, 2017 SASSA provided Sigamoney with a letter of approval, which she signed for as received.
She is alleged to have received grant money from SASSA amounting to approximately R123,000.00 from July 2017 to July 2022.
The court heard that Sigamoney's company was awarded tenders worth millions from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to supply office furniture.
In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Pieter Nel highlighted the need to convey a strong message to potential perpetrators, on the seriousness of such offences.
"The court previously granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit a confiscation order against her, stipulating that an amount of R138, 593.00 with interest calculated at 11.25% per annum, calculated from the date of this order, be paid back to SASSA," said IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame.
The IDAC said that after charges were registered against her, she continued to receive the grant for a further 16 months.
"Although she is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty and Matthew Pillay (her son), KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the state as early as 2012, preceding her application to SASSA.
"Furthermore, the company is estimated to have cashed in approximately R88 million from the SAPS contracts, to which the last payment was in 2022.
Sigamoney's leave to appeal was granted and the court postponed the matter to 12 March 2025 for arguments.
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