Former MP Charles Redcliffe was on Friday slapped with a R70Â 000 fine or five years’ imprisonment for defrauding the parliamentary travel scheme.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said in a statement that Redcliffe was given a further five-year jail term suspended conditionally for five years by Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe.
”Redcliffe had pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud, admitting to have handed over travel warrants allocated to him by Parliament for official air travel to travel agents at ITC Travel during January 2002 and June 2003,” spokesperson Lucinda Moonieya said.
In turn, ITC is believed to have used the travel warrant vouchers given to them by Redcliffe to submit false claims to Parliament.
”Parliament would then make payments under the guise of valid flights undertaken by the member … Redcliffe,” she said.
Also, Redcliffe received services — ”which he was not entitled to” — such as car rentals, hotel accommodation and a luxury cruise involving the fraudulent flights and warrants valued at R70Â 000. — Sapa