Man accused of stealing R200k SASSA money in Bishop Lavis to appear in court

A 36-year-old man is expected to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates Court on Tuesday for theft, fraud, perjury and forger at Lavis Town Post office.

The suspect, who was nabbed by the Western Cape’s Commercial Crime Investigation Unit (Banking and Electronic Group), worked at the post office and managed the day to day administrative duties. Its alleged that he stole R200 000 of SASSA funds in May, which had not been collected by the approved recipients.

“[The money] was to be returned to the Post Office Bank account and to be collected by the relevant Private Security Company. During the normal course of business, he would be required to complete the relevant deposit slip, a collection slip by the private security company and endorse this in the relevant register of the post office to indicate the banking of the uncollected funds. It is alleged that the suspect, then made forged entries into these registers, indicating that the funds were indeed collected by the security company and deposited into the post office bank account whereas this was not done,” said Captain FC van Wyk.

Van Wyk says the matter was referred to the Western Cape's Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, who interviewed witnesses resulting in a prima face case. Furthermore, investigators also discovered that the suspect was involved in a similar case, involving approximately R500 000.

Western Cape police are probing the matter.

 

PICTURE: SA Post Office

Done By: Mitchum George