Former EPRU president Cheeky Watson pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and money laundering when his trial got under way on Tuesday.

Watson and three others – Nadia Gerwel, Andrea Wessels and Mandisi Mkasa – are accused of fraudulent activities involving R12-million that was meant for PE’s integrated public transport system.

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In a letter read in Watson’s defence, he stated that he was unaware of any fraudulent activities. He alleged that he had no suspicions that something was wrong when Gerwel, former assistant director of accounting in the Nelson Mandela Metro, transferred R2.9-million into the EP Rugby account.

A charge of failure to report fraud has been added to Watson’s charge sheet, meaning that he now faces three charges, including money laundering and fraud.

Photo: Eugene Coetzee/The Herald