A South African Police Service (SAPS) captain has been suspended after an internal probe uncovered alleged fraud involving millions of rand within the Protection and Security Services (PSS) division.
The captain, attached to the finance section of the PSS, is accused of exploiting access to the police financial system to withdraw large sums of money for personal use.
Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said the member allegedly manipulated the system by recording the withdrawals as travel expenses for close protection officers attached to the Presidential Protection Services (PPS). However, further investigation revealed that the funds were never received by the protectors and were instead withdrawn in lump sums by the captain.
A case of fraud has since been registered at the Sunnyside police station, while an internal departmental process resulted in the officer’s suspension.
National police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola commended the SAPS financial management division for detecting the irregularities.
He has also tasked the SAPS anti-corruption unit with continuing the investigation.
Police said no close protection officers attached to the president, deputy president, ministers or deputy ministers are implicated in this case.
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