POLOKWANE – A 54-year-old police sergeant in Limpopo province under investigation for alleged fraud and theft involving the state fuel fleet cards is set to appear before the Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court on 24 August. Intensive probing revealed collusion with petrol attendants in the fraud and theft with state fuel cards.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, spokesperson for Limpopo police, confirmed in a statement issued yesterday that the officer was served with a summons on Wednesday. He said the move to serve a summons was further supported by the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) decision that prima facie evidence exists to prosecute based on preliminary investigation revealing wrongdoing.
“Following the conclusion of the investigation, the docket was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision, which authorised charges of fraud and theft against the member,” said Mashaba. He said the Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit was continuing the investigation into the alleged crime committed during April last year. Mashaba said that according to the investigation, the fraud and theft via fleet cards amounted to R3 227.50 and the officer allegedly colluded with three petrol attendants.
“The member allegedly stole the fleet cards from the office and took them to the filling station. Upon arrival, he allegedly colluded with three petrol attendants, who filled petrol into customers’ private vehicles in exchange for cash. After the cash transaction, the member would swipe the state fleet card and allegedly share the money with the petrol attendants,” he said.
Mashaba said the investigation uncovered a trail of transactions. “On Friday, 11 April, a male complainant was driving a state vehicle in the Sebayeng policing area during the Arrive Alive campaign and stopped at a local filling station to refuel. When he swiped the state fleet card, the transaction declined because insufficient kilometres had been travelled since the last re-fuelling. “Further investigations revealed that the fleet card had been used on the same day without the correct kilometres being captured. A transaction of R1 227.50 was made,” said Mashaba.
He said that records showed that the vehicle linked to that fleet card was at the SAPS garage for repairs at the time, yet a transaction of R1 300.00 was made on that day. “Further investigations also revealed that the member allegedly used a third fleet card at the same filling station, resulting in a transaction of R700.00 on a day when the vehicle was parked and not in use,” said Mashaba.
