From BBC News · · 1m 20s
Farm theft conviction in South Africa president scandal
A man is found guilty of stealing over half a million dollars from a cattle farm owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa, reviving a scandal that nearly toppled him.
In brief
A man is found guilty of stealing over half a million dollars from a cattle farm owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa, reviving a scandal that nearly toppled him. A court in South Africa convicted a man of stealing more than five hundred thousand dollars from President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm, reigniting the Farmgate…
Man convicted of farm theft
Imanuwela David was found guilty on Monday of stealing more than five hundred thousand dollars in cash from Phala Phala farm, owned by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, in Limpopo province in 2020.
Stolen cash spent on luxury goods
David broke into the cattle farm in February 2020 and took five hundred eighty thousand dollars from a sofa. He then bought three Mercedes, a Porsche, two Volkswagens, diamond-encrusted Rolex watches and a house.
Court rejects David's money claims
David told the court he had made the money through businesses including diamonds and Bitcoin. The court rejected these claims and found David was the only convicted person with stolen cash in his bank account.
Scandal revived as sentencing looms
Pre-sentencing will take place on thirteen November. The theft was unknown until twenty twenty-two when former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser revealed it, claiming Ramaphosa hid the burglary from police and tax authorities. Ramaphosa denied wrongdoing.
The big picture
A court in South Africa convicted a man of stealing more than five hundred thousand dollars from President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm, reigniting the Farmgate scandal that threatened his presidency.
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/9388636/original/014984700_1793657981-155333.jpg)