Five individuals, including 55-year-old Patrick Patrese Jones, who had been evading the authorities for an entire decade, appeared before the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Patrick Patrese Jones arrested after 10 years on the run
As reported by IOL News, the suspects are facing charges related to an alleged fraud scheme that defrauded Eskom, South Africa’s national electricity supplier, of more than R14 million.
Jones, who had been on the run for an extended period, was arrested earlier this month at a hideout in the Western Cape.
According to Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Jones was apprehended by law enforcement in the Western Cape on Thursday, 7 September 2023, at his hideaway in Gordons Bay.
The case, which dates back to April 2013, centres around allegations that Jones colluded with Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi, a senior buyer employed by Eskom at the time.
As the investigation unfolded, it became evident that Jones’s family and his girlfriend were also implicated in the alleged fraudulent activities.
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Jones’s brother, Godfrey Jason Jones, aged 46, was identified as a signatory to Angel Frost Investment Pty Ltd’s business account held at Standard Bank.
Additionally, Jones’s mother, Rabela Sarah Jones, aged 71, served as the sole director of Angel Frost Investment Pty Ltd and Angel Frost Investment Pty Ltd.
Maria Cantelo, aged 53 and a foreign national, was identified as Patrick Patrese Jones’s girlfriend, and she was alleged to have facilitated the tender processes on behalf of Angel Frost Investment Pty Ltd while benefiting from the proceeds of the alleged crime.
In a previous arrest in April 2023, Cantelo was added as accused number five in the case, which involves charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering, totalling R14.7 million, related to Eskom.
The Hendrina Specialised Commercial Crimes Court granted bail to Nkosi, Cantelo, and Godfrey Jones in the amounts of R100 000 each. Rabela Sarah Jones was granted bail of R30 000, citing her health conditions as the reason for the lower bail amount.
Patrick Patrese Jones, who was recently arrested in the Western Cape, appeared before the Strand Magistrate’s Court last Friday. Following this, he was transferred to Mpumalanga province, where he made an appearance before the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 11 September 2023.
He has been remanded in custody, and the case was postponed to Wednesday, where he was expected to be joined by his co-accused who are out on bail.
It is anticipated that Patrick Patrese Jones may seek bail during the proceedings.
Brigadier Gregory Gaillard, the acting provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, commended the Western Cape multi-disciplinary team for their role in capturing Patrick Patrese Jones, who had successfully evaded arrest for nearly a decade.
How Jones allegedly defrauded Eskom out of R14.7 million
The alleged fraud scheme involved an intricate web of deceit.
Eskom had advertised a tender for the supply and delivery of pumps at the Arnot power station. Angel Frost Investment was awarded the contract, with assistance from Eskom employee Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi.
However, the company submitted fraudulent documents in the process.
Nkosi allegedly misled Eskom’s financial section into approving an upfront payment of R14 million to Angel Frost Investment, even though the transaction was based on false information.
Ultimately, the pumps in question were never delivered to Eskom.
During the course of the Hawks’ investigation, it was revealed that from March to April 2013, Nkosi had collaborated with Rabela Sara Jones and her two sons.
Cantelo was accused of facilitating the tender process on behalf of Angel Frost Investment.