Two Suspects Charged with Fraud & Money Laundering in R130 Million Cell C Tender Scam

Two suspects, 37-year-old Michelle Pillay and 42-year-old Khatiya Patel have appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial facing charges of fraud and money laundering.

It is alleged that between 2012 and 2019, Techno Genius Director, 38-year-old Adriaan Pillay and his business partner 44-year-old Mohamed Ismail Adamjee are reported to have colluded and inflated rates for It and network services required by mobile operator Cell C.

Adamjee was employed by Cell C from January 2002 to 7 May 2020 and the court papers say since September 2011, he was employed by Cell C as an executive.

Adamjee is alleged to have orchestrated the theft, which drained the operator of R130 million since 2012.

Further investigation revealed that Patel allegedly colluded and inflated rates for the IT and network services rendered to Cell C while working as an Administrator at Techno Genius during the same period.

However, Pillay reportedly received approximately R3 million into her bank account as proceeds of crime.