PRETORIA – The SAPS has suspended a captain attached to the Protection Security Services (PSS) in connection with a fraud case under investigation. Brig. Athlenda Mathe, national spokesperson for the police, confirmed the suspension of the member in a media statement yesterday, on 1 April.
She said a fraud case had been registered at the Sunnyside Police Station in Pretoria for further investigation, in addition to the internal investigation. The captain’s suspension is based on prima facie evidence of alleged wrongdoing. While the money involved is reported to amount to millions, the exact amount swindled is not disclosed.
“An internal departmental investigation has led to his suspension. An investigation uncovered discrepancies and suspicious transactions within the division,” said Mathe.
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“The member allegedly used his access to the finance system to withdraw money running into millions. An investigation has uncovered that he allegedly manipulated the system to book out cash for himself by pretending that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services (PPS). Further investigations uncovered that the money was not received by the close protectors, but was booked out in lump-sum cash amounts by the member.”
Mathe said the national commissioner of Police, Gen. Fannie Masemola, has applauded the Financial Management Division for identifying and uprooting criminality within police ranks.
She said the SAPS Anti-Corruption unit had been assigned to investigate the matter.
“No close protectors attached to the president, deputy president, ministers or deputy ministers are implicated in this case.
“The SAPS takes this opportunity to assure the nation that it has stringent measures in place to ensure taxpayers’ money is utilised in service to the nation, and that the SAPS will not tolerate fraud and corruption within its ranks,” said Mathe.
