The state has seized assets linked to alleged Tembisa looter Stefan Govindraju, reports News24. During proceedings in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) on Wednesday, it emerged that a plea and sentence agreement had been concluded 'in principle' in his criminal case.

A draft attached detailed how Govindraju allegedly bought the loyalty of senior Tembisa Hospital officials with lavish bribes, including jewellery and luxury cars. This included a McLaren, a Mercedes-Benz S63 and a Ferrari.

A Lamborghini worth R5m was also apparently purchased on request, although the money was later refunded, according to the draft plea and sentence agreement, in terms of which Govindraju would further admit he paid for international flights and accommodation. 

‘The accused effected payments directly to the dealerships. He would be advised to park the vehicle at a certain place where it would be later collected. He cannot account for who took physical possession thereof, but is aware that some vehicles were given as gifts to girlfriends,’ it read.

It went unopposed by Govindraju, and a final order was granted, forfeiting multiple assets believed to be the proceeds of crime – properties valued at more than R62m, an R814 000 Land Rover Sport, and a 2019 Ford Mustang GT worth R599 500 – to the state.

Other assets included an investment with Sanlam Private Wealth with an estimated current balance of R22m.

This is in line with the draft plea, which stated that Govindraju consented to a final restraint order over his assets and agreed to the appointment of a curator bonis to take control to satisfy a confiscation order of R1.559m.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, which were conducted virtually, the state told the court that a plea and sentence agreement had been concluded in principle but had not yet been finalised before a criminal court.

The state also pointed to a confirmatory affidavit by Govindraju’s attorney, Kamesh Maharajh. The draft agreement records that Govindraju has co-operated with the NPA, the Special Investigating Unit and the investigating officer, which would result in him being sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for fraud, with eight years suspended for five years.

He would also be sentenced to seven years for money laundering and seven years for corruption, with all these sentences running concurrently.

The 37-year-old Govindraju was arrested last month shortly after returning from the Seychelles. He appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Palm Ridge, where he was granted R200 000 bail.

In 2022, News24 exposed Govindraju as the hidden hand behind a network of 54 shell companies – including one that sold a consignment of children’s skinny jeans to the hospital for R500 000 – and revealed how he landed R600m in tainted deals from Tembisa Hospital, placing him among the largest beneficiaries of the R2.3bn extracted from the facility.

He was only stopped after slain Gauteng Health Department whistle-blower Babita Deokaran reported anomalous spending patterns.

Full News24 report