Post Bank scam leader appeals sentence

ONE OF the ringleaders behind a South African Post Bank scam, which targeted clients’ bank accounts, turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal to appeal against the fact that he was twice convicted under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca), based on the same facts.

- ZELDA VENTER

He is also appealing against his 40-year imprisonment, which he says is shockingly harsh.

In 2015, the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, sentenced nine fraudsters involved in the scam to an effective 1,680 years combined for defrauding the Post Bank, forgery and uttering, money laundering, and stealing from unsuspecting persons' accounts, as well as racketeering.

Isaac Dithlakanyane, identified by the State as one of the main characters behind the scam, was sentenced to 50 years in jail. This was later reduced on appeal before the high court to 40 years behind bars.

He colluded with eight Post Bank employees to open fraudulent accounts and deposit fraudulent pension pay-outs and stolen cheques. Dithlakanyane stole an amount of R2.2 million from the Post Bank, and he was convicted on 76 counts.