Former East London mayor guilty of credit card fraud

29 March 2016 - 16:04 By Zwanga Mukhuthu

Former Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukisa Faku has been found guilty on nine counts of fraud and theft‚ relating to her abuse of her official BCM credit card for personal purchases while on business trips to Turkey and within South Africa. Judgment was handed down on Tuesday in the East London Magistrate's Court.Throughout the trial‚ Faku claimed she did not know she could not use the credit card for private purchases. The trips date back to 2009.In a 45-minute judgment‚ magistrate Sadia Jacobs lashed out at the former mayor‚ saying Faku purchased goods valued at R14‚942.79 knowing very well she was not entitled to do so."You made the purchase of the goods fully knowing that the municipality will not authorise the payment of the goods. You distorted the truth there by creating a misrepresentation. The misrepresentation further led to prejudice. The municipality suffered prejudice. You are therefore found guilty."The case was postponed to May 17 for sentencing. Faku's bail was extended...

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