NIGERIAN MAKES U.S MOST WANTED LIST OVER $1M FRAUD. (PHOTO).

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 Nigerian makes US Most Wanted List over $1m fraud A Nigerian, Onoriode Ezewu, has been named on the United States Department of Labour’s first-ever Most Wanted List over allegations of money laundering involving fraudulent unemployment benefit claims worth more than $1m. The department’s Office of Inspector General unveiled the list on its website on Wednesday, naming 16 fugitives wanted in cases involving alleged fraud, identity theft, money laundering, labour trafficking and other offences. According to the agency, the cases collectively involve more than $55m allegedly stolen from American taxpayers. Ezewu’s profile on the department’s website identifies him as wanted for concealment money laundering and states that he is believed to be residing in Nigeria. “In January 2021, Ezewu was charged with 15 counts of concealment money laundering tied to fraudulent UI and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims filed using stolen identities, in a scheme exceeding $1 million that also t...

S. A: SEVEN CHINESE ARRESTED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CHILD LABOUR. (PHOTO).

 


Seven foreign nationals (Chinese) arrested for human trafficking and child labour appeared in court today for sentencing 


The accused—Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian were found guilty on 158 out of 160 charges, including human trafficking, contravention of the Immigration Act, kidnapping, debt bondage, and benefiting from the services of trafficking victims. They were acquitted on two unspecified charges.


The case dates back to 12 November 2019 when a joint operation by the Department of Employment and Labour's Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES), the South African Police Service (SAPS)/Hawks Unit, and the Department of Home Affairs led to the arrest of the accused at their company, Beautiful City Pty Ltd, located in Village Deep, Johannesburg. 


The operation uncovered 91 Malawian nationals, including 37 children, working under deplorable conditions and confined within the factory premises, which specialised in producing cotton fibre sheets. 


During the trial, which commenced in 2019, the prosecution, led by Advocate Valencia Dube, presented compelling evidence demonstrating that the accused knowingly exploited the Malawian workers, fully aware of their vulnerable status. The defence, represented by attorney Johan Kruger, contended that the Malawians had voluntarily come to South Africa and were not victims of trafficking, suggesting that the state's case was overly expansive. 


Following the guilty verdict, the prosecution has requested that all convicted individuals be remanded in custody pending sentencing. The court is expected to announce the sentencing date in due course.

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