MPUMALANGA – Portia Majola (55), employed by Department of Justice in Secunda Magistrate Court as administration clerk and Thokozile Sophie Nofuya (55)  also employed by Department of Justice at Evander Magistrate Court as administration clerk were arrested by the Hawks` Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team Secunda on Tuesday 21 December 2021, for Fraud and Theft.

It is alleged that during November 2020 the duo colluded and submitted fraudulent claims for witnesses’ transport allowance on behalf of the witnesses who were not even in court on the days written on the documents and the accused also did not attach prosecutor`s certificates on the forms.

Internal investigation was established and the witnesses were interviewed, and they confirmed that they were not in court on the days mentioned on the submitted documents. A case was opened and transferred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Secunda for further investigation. During investigation the duo were linked to the crime and the department was found to have suffered a loss amount of R15 000.

The suspects were arrested on warrant of arrest and taken to Secunda Magistrate Court on Tuesday and released on warning.

The case is postponed to 01 February 2022 for Legal aid application.

Source: South African Police Service