Former operations manager at the Johannesburg Environmental Health Department, Nelson Damari, will appear in court tomorrow (Friday) on 94 counts of fraud for allegedly irregularly issuing export certificates.
Damari – who was not authorised to issue any export and import certificates in his capacity as operations manager – had reportedly issued a total of 94 certificates and pocketed around R100 000 according to Johannesburg executive mayor, Herman Mashaba.
The investigation into Damari found that he had been defrauding the city since 2009, having supposedly approached a number of export and import companies offering to assist them with obtaining certificates more quickly.
All monies relating to the certificates were paid into Damari’s personal bank account.
“The city doesn’t issue invoices for export certificates. An exporter first pays at the city’s revenue paypoints and to the city’s bank account,” said Mashaba. “Upon payment the exporter will be issued with a receipt which should be kept as proof of payment.”
He added that some of the certificates had been completed and stamped by Damari using a fraudulent stamp describing him as Dr MN Damari.
