Cell C says it fully supports the law enforcement authorities in the arrest of a second former IT manager, Adriraan Pillay.
The 39-year-old Pillay was arrested by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Germiston on Friday for charges relating to the investigation of alleged fraud and corruption in a tender scam amounting to R130 million.
The arrest comes after another former Cell C executive, Mohamed Ismail Adamjee, was granted R50 000 bail after being accused of defrauding the company in the same alleged multimillion-rand tender scam.
In a statement, the Hawks say Pillay and his co-accused allegedly colluded with a director of a contracted entity responsible for IT and network services, and falsely inflated invoices, which resulted in a loss of over R130 million from 2012 to 2019.
“Pillay was arrested on 5 February 2021 after a warrant of arrest was issued and he was subsequently charged with fraud and corruption. He appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Monday, 8 February 2021, where he was granted R50 000 [bail],” say the Hawks.
According to the Hawks, the investigation ensued last year, following an internal audit at the cellphone company, which resulted in the arrest of Adamjee last month and will allow the law to take its course.
Cell C says it has taken a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal or unethical activity, and will not hesitate to act on evidence and take the appropriate action.
“When Douglas Craigie Stevenson took over at Cell C he indicated that he was going to clean up ship and this action against fraudulent activity is actually a good thing. The law is taking its course and our corporate is serious about rooting out unlawful incidents,” says a Cell C spokesperson.
The case is postponed to 14 April, when Pillay will be joining his co-accused, Adamjee.
“The investigation is continuing on this matter and more arrests are expected,” say the Hawks.
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