Ex-KPMG Employee Fidelis Moema Granted R50,000 Bail in R16.5 Million Bursary Fraud Case

Former KPMG bursary specialist Fidelis Moema was granted R50,000 bail by the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday after being accused of defrauding his former employer of R16.5 million. According to IOL, Moema, his co-accused businessman Trevor Machimane and metro police officer Lebohang Sigubudu, were also granted R50,000 bail. The charges against Moema include: 

• theft, 
• fraud, and 
• money laundering. 

The accusations against him are for paying from KPMG to associates’ accounts between 2021 and 2022 and then transferring the money to his account.

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The State informed the court that some of Moema’s ex-girlfriends would testify against him in the trial. Moema, aged 32, was arrested by the Hawks after surrendering himself to the Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation team in Johannesburg. KPMG fired Moema in November 2022 and opened criminal charges against him in February last year. The company alleged that Moema diverted millions intended for student bursaries to companies associated with his friends. Despite his employment at Nedbank, where he reportedly earns over R64,000 monthly, Moema’s lawyer stated that he has no previous or pending criminal cases against him and intends not to plead guilty.

Meanwhile, Machimane, who earns about R45,000 per month, and his wife, who earns R60,000 monthly, were also granted bail. Sibundu, the third accused, a Tshwane Metro police officer, was granted R50,000 bail and has pleaded not guilty. The trio will appear in court again on May 24.

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Picture: Meta / Sthembiso Mngoma

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