Court halts sentencing in multi-million Durban hospital fraud case

THE Durban High Court has halted sentencing proceedings in a fraud case of a sole director of a closed corporation, who was allegedly involved in multi-million fraud committed at the Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban regarding the supply of medical equipment.

- ZELDA VENTER

Oleena Dauchand, the only member of Trestine Trading CC, had asked the court for an interdict to prevent sentencing proceedings from going ahead next month in her matter. Dauchand and the closed corporation entered a plea of guilty in respect of numerous counts of fraud and corruption and were convicted.

However the business owner had a change of heart some months later and claimed that she had actually meant to plead not guilty to the charges. She blamed her erstwhile legal team for making her enter a guilty plea to the charges. The magistrate dealing with her case, however, did not want to accept her change of plea after her conviction.

She therefore dashed to court to seek an interdict.

Dauchand has instituted proceedings to overturn this refusal by the magistrate, but she argued that it would be too late to prevent harm if the sentencing overtakes the review proceedings, as she may well then already be in jail.