Johannesburg, South Africa - Fourteen individuals, including former Nedbank forensic investigator Nicolette De Villiers, faced the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court today over allegations of large-scale fraud. The accused face 224 charges linked to unauthorized transfers totaling over R157 million, allegedly redirected from a Nedbank suspense account to personal accounts and associated companies between July 2018 and January 2023.
De Villiers, a key figure in the case, is accused of instructing unauthorized transfers, moving funds meant to be investigated into accounts linked to her co-defendants. Companies implicated include Ivy League Group, Prometal Projects, and Kitchen at Cost, where several accused are listed as directors.
Following today’s proceedings, bail was granted to the accused, with amounts ranging from R2,000 to R20,000. They are due back in court on 29 January 2025 for further disclosures and to address the case of an additional suspect. Co-defendant Wei-Fang remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing on 7 November 2024, pending interpreter services.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice in financial crimes, stressing the importance of accountability in safeguarding the banking system’s integrity.
