SAPS captain suspended over alleged multi-million rand fraud

Pretoria – A South African Police Service (SAPS) captain attached to the Protection and Security Services (PSS) has been suspended following an internal investigation that uncovered alleged fraud involving millions of rand.

According to SAPS, the officer, who worked in the finance section of the division, is accused of abusing his access to the financial system to withdraw large sums of money under false pretences.

“The member is attached to the finance section of the Protection and Security Service (PSS) and allegedly used his access to the finance system to withdraw monies running into millions,” SAPS said in a statement.

Investigators found that the captain allegedly manipulated the system by claiming the funds were for travel expenses for close protection officers assigned to the Presidential Protection Services (PPS).

“An investigation has uncovered that he manipulated the system to book out cash for himself under the disguise that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services (PPS),” the statement said.

However, further investigations revealed that the funds never reached the intended recipients.

“Further investigations uncovered that the money was not received by the close protectors but booked out in lump sum cash amounts by the member,” SAPS added.

Following the probe, a fraud case has been registered at the Sunnyside police station, while an internal departmental investigation resulted in the officer’s suspension.

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola praised officials who uncovered the alleged wrongdoing and confirmed that further investigations are under way.

He “applauded the Financial Management Division for identifying and uprooting criminality within our ranks and has assigned the SAPS anti-corruption unit to investigate the matter,” the statement said.

SAPS emphasised that no members of the presidential protection detail were implicated in the alleged scheme.

“No close protector attached to the President, Deputy President, Ministers or Deputy Ministers are implicated in this case,” the police said.

The police service also sought to reassure the public about its financial controls.

“The SAPS takes this opportunity to assure the nation that it has stringent measures in place to ensure taxpayers’ monies are utilized in service to the nation and that the SAPS will not tolerate fraud and corruption within its rank.”