South Africa MPs convicted of fraud in travel scam

CAPE TOWN - Five South African members of parliament were convicted of fraud on Friday but were spared prison terms in one the country's highest profile graft cases.

The MPs, all members of the ruling African National Congress, were ordered to pay fines of between 40,000 rand ($9351.41) and 80,000 rand each and received suspended sentences for their part in a 17 million rand "travelgate" scam.

They are among 24 MPs accused of using doctored travel vouchers allowing them to book into luxury hotels, hire flashy cars and dine at lavish restaurants at taxpayers' expense.

"I am satisfied that the sentence is a fair and just sentence, and the accused is therefore convicted of fraud," Cape Town regional court magistrate JC Vermeulen told each MP in turn after they admitted fraud in a plea bargain agreed by the state.

The five were parliamentary finance committee member Rhoda Joemat and fellow backbenchers Tseko Taabe, Pamela Mnandi, Mavis Magazi and Hlonitshwa Mpaka. They will be entitled to keep their seats in the National Assembly.

The investigation into the 24 MPs by South Africa's elite FBI-style anti-crime unit, the Scorpions, is seen as a major step in rooting out corruption in Africa's biggest economy.

Most of the accused are expected to avoid prison terms and some are likely to turn state witness against travel agents also facing fraud charges.

The Scorpions arrested five travel agents in June last year for doctoring travel vouchers.

State prosecutor Jannie van Vuuren said three more parliamentarians were due to be sentenced next week following agreements reached with the state.

"This was just the start, to get it off the ground, the process will follow as the year goes on," he told reporters.

The five convicted MPs received prison sentences ranging from three to five years, all suspended for five years.

They are also expected to repay parliament the money involved -- between 35,000 rand and 75,000 rand each.

Judith February of the independent Institute for Democracy in South Africa said the onus was now on political parties to bring disciplinary procedures against the five and to explain the plea bargains.

"Given that they have pleaded guilty that certainly would be appropriate ... people want to understand that this was not just easy justice," she said.

- REUTERS