Former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni was on Thursday found guilty of fraud by a Pretoria magistrate in terms of a plea agreement with the state.
In return, he was acquitted of corruption. The charges relate to a 47% discount he received on a luxury 4X4 Mercedes Benz in 1998.
In a written plea explanation handed up to Pretoria’s Commercial Crimes Court, Yengeni admitted he acted in breach of his public duties and with the intent to defraud Parliament.
He said he convinced his co-accused, businessman Michael Woerfel, to arrange the car deal. Woerfel was at the time the head of Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG’s Pretoria representative office.
”I admit that I failed to disclose to Parliament, in circumstances where there was a duty to disclose, that I received the benefit… and that I misrepresented the facts and events as set out,” Yengeni’s plea explanation says.
”The above misrepresentations were made with the intent to defraud Parliament.”
The Democratic Alliance welcomed the Yengeni’s admission, saying however that it was regrettable that the state had opted to drop the corruption charge as part of the plea agreement.
”Mr Yengeni’s conduct in this matter has been a disgrace. The ANC will have to deal with these new developments and consider Mr Yengeni’s position in parliament.” the party said. – Sapa