Former Hawks security guard fined for falsifying matric certificate

A former Hawks’ security guard, who submitted a fake matric certificate for employment at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, in Bellville, has been fined R5 000.

Bush Radio News previously reported that the suspect applied for a position for a security official in the Hawks offices in Bellville in October 2021, and began her new job in April 2022.

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45-year-old Phelisa Lande, who is no longer employed by the Hawks,  appeared in the Bellville Magistrate Court, last week, and pleaded guilty on two counts of fraud.

Lande made her first appearance in the Bellville Magistrates' court on 10 August 2022 on a charge of fraud and was subsequently released on R1 000 bail.

‘’This comes after a warrant of arrest was issued for the accused on 08 August 2022 by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Investigation team in Bellville for falsifying her qualifications. Upon noticing the suspicious certificate, the Hawks’ vetted the qualifications with the Department of Education to verify the authenticity of the certificate,’’ said Zinzi Hani, Hawks Western Cape spokesperson.

‘’It was during this process that the allegation of fraud was discovered and further investigation revealed that the accused submitted the same qualification on her previous employment where she was employed as a security officer,’’ she added.

Lande, pleaded guilty on two counts of fraud and was sentenced to R5 000 or 5 months direct imprisonment of which was wholly suspended for 5 years.

‘’The State withdrew two charges of contravening the provisions of Section 20 of the Security Industry Regulations Act 56 of 2001,’’ said Hani.

The Hawks Provincial Head of the Western Cape, Major General Mathipa Makgato welcomed the sentence.

“I hope this conviction will serve as a warning to others who will attempt to commit similar crimes”.  

 

Done By: Mitchum George