NORTH WEST – A 43-year-old former liaison officer at the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development in Mmabatho was summoned on 12 November 2021 by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team to appear in court on allegations of fraud.

He was responsible for procurement of cellphones from the service provider for the employees. It is alleged that between January 2014 and January 2015, he made unauthorised procurement requests to the service provider which prejudiced the department of more than R2,5 million. The department discovered the fraudulent activities when the service provider submitted invoices.

The matter was reported to the Hawks for investigation and the 43-year-old was summoned to appear in the Mmabatho Regional Court on 6 December 2021 on 13 counts of fraud.

Source: South African Police Service