Terry Pheto denies involvement in lotto fraud

South African actress Terry Pheto has addressed reports that she is the subject of a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigation. 

The 'Tsotsi' star was one of several people the SIU named as part of its probe into an alleged Lotteries Commission fraud scheme. 

The North Gauteng High Court granted a preservation order last week to freeze nine luxury properties in Pretoria, Centurion, Hartbeespoort, and Johannesburg, as well as a BMW 420i. 

Two Ocean Basket franchises in the East Rand were also placed under preservation, according to the SIU. The assets are worth approximately R25-million.

"SIU investigations in the affairs on the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) had revealed that the acquisition of the properties was funded by the Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) with money they had received, under the auspices of grant funding, from the NLC. The luxury properties, therefore, constitute proceeds of unlawful activities..." 

ALSO READ:  Saint or Sinner... Celebs react to Cape Town club exposing non-paying patrons

Terry, who was born Moitheri Pheto, took to Twitter to set the record straight. The 41-year-old says she is "dismayed" to discover that she is the subject of the SIU probe. 

"I deny any involvement in the alleged scheme that has been reported on. I also had no prior knowledge of an application to obtain a preservation order against me," she said in her statement. 

The actress added that she holds the law in high regard

"... and will cooperate fully with this investigation in an open and transparent manner. This is a difficult time for me and I would like to thank my supporters for their unwavering messages of encouragement.”

ALSO READ: Dr Malinga denies buying a McLaren

Speaking to EWN, SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explained why Terry was being investigated. 

"Her name come into the fold when we were tracing the money and we ended up in this property that is owned by her and that is why her name is attached to this because we were tracing the money that was supposed to have gone to an NPO, to other people, and ended up being used to buy the property that she owns."

Main image credit: Instagram/@terrypheto