MPUMALANGA’S 43-year-old former finance chief, Shadrack Mashele, appeared briefly in Nelspruit’s regional court on fraud charges on Monday after allegedly using State funds to settle personal business debts. Mashele appeared in court with Mpumalanga assistant finance director Sellion Maseko, 37, but was not asked to plead when they were both released on their own recognisance. The case was postponed to February 14, when a trial date will be set. The two were arrested last year after Maseko allegedly helped Mashele channel R120000 out of government coffers to settle personal business debts, while they both still worked in the provincial finance department. An unnamed Waterval Boven baker who allegedly received some of the money has turned State Witness and made detailed statements to police. Media revelations about the alleged scam forced Mashele to resign from government in September.