Shauwn Mpisane appears in court

Durban - Businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Monday.

State advocate Meera Naidu made an application to join the corruption and defeating the ends of justice charges with the fraud charges she is already facing.

On Friday, Mpisane handed herself to police on the charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice. She is accused of contacting one of the witnesses expected to testify in her fraud trial.

According to the Independent on Saturday, she handed herself in at the Mayville police station at 9.30am after the police warned her of her pending arrest.

She appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court and was released on R50 000 bail.

“The State witness has indicated he was contacted by the accused and asked to alter certain exhibits,” Naidu said.

The matter was postponed to November 27 to allow for further investigation.

Naidu asked that the matter in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court be transferred to the Durban Magistrate's Court because the cases were linked.

“Both cases have the same witnesses and evidence. Also, the accused will find herself prejudiced if the she has to face two trials,” she said.

Defence advocate Jimmy Howse told the court he needed to take instructions from Mpisane.

Her trial was set down for Monday, but was postponed until Tuesday.

She is accused of inflating invoices by more that R5 million to cut her tax bill.

Mpisane has pleaded not guilty.

She is accused of violating the Close Corporations Act by remaining the sole member of Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance and Transport CC when she had a previous fraud conviction.

The State said there had been ongoing investigations since Mpisane's last appearance in June and fresh charges might be added to her case. - Sapa