A female lieutenant-colonel has been served with summons to
appear in the Kestell Magistrates’ Court on 12 July, and answer for alleged
fraud committed a decade ago. Now based in Vereeniging, Gauteng, the
47-year-old officer allegedly committed the crime while working in Kestell,
Free State.
Lt Col. Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks,
said an intensive investigation revealed the suspect committed the crime during
2012, shortly after she was promoted to her current rank. He said an
investigation was tasked to the Serious Corruption Investigation unit of the
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), or Hawks, in Bloemfontein.
“A warrant for her arrest was issued and she was arrested on 28
June in Vereeniging for fraud. The officer was promoted to a lieutenant-colonel
post in 2012. Upon resuming duties in her new post, she did not reside in
Kestell. Instead, she reportedly travelled in an official vehicle to and from
work between Bethlehem and Kestell. Months later, she allegedly submitted a
claim for resettlement costs to the amount of over R19 000 without having
relocated to Kestell. The resettlement cost is a benefit given to members who
have been appointed to a post outside their primary place of residence,” said
Mohobeleli. He said the case against the woman was based on the Serious
Corruption Investigation unit presenting a strong case before the court.
