One of the seven travel agents arrested in connection with the parliamentary travel scam appeared briefly in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Mpho Lebelo was last week able to pay only R40 000 of her R100 000 bail and was ordered to provide the court with a “satisfactory guarantee” for the remaining R60 000.
Her attorney told the court on Monday that a property belonging to her husband and registered in his name will be put up as surety for the amount.
Magistrate Alta le Roux postponed the matter to August 6 to allow Lebelo to secure the necessary paperwork, including obtaining the title deed of the property.
Lebelo is one of seven directors and consultants attached to four Cape Town travel agencies arrested by the Scorpions in connection with defrauding Parliament of more than R12,5-million.
Lebelo and a fellow employee of Bathong Travel are accused of defrauding Parliament of R1,7-million.
The scheme allegedly involved conspiring to have MPs’ travel vouchers, valid only for air trips, “extended” to cover additional costs such as car hire, hotel accommodation and flights never undertaken.
None of the accused, except Lebelo, have prior convictions or cases pending.
Lebelo was convicted of shoplifting in 1995.
The Scorpions are expected to widen their probe now to include the role of MPs, more than 100 of whom — including Cabinet ministers — are reportedly targeted for investigation. — Sapa