A Pretoria-based South African Police Service (SAPS) captain has been suspended following a multi-million-rand fraud investigation within the Protection and Security Services (PSS) division, reports Pretoria Rekord.

The officer, who was attached to the unit’s finance section, allegedly manipulated internal systems to withdraw large sums of money under the guise of travel expenses for VIP protection personnel.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said an investigation has uncovered that he manipulated the system to book out cash for himself under the guise that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services (PPS).

“Further investigations uncovered that the money was not received by the close protectors but booked out in lump sum cash amounts by the member,” said Mathe.

“Following a lengthy investigation, a case of fraud was registered at the Sunnyside police station, and an internal departmental investigation has led to his suspension.”

Meanwhile, the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, has applauded the  Financial Management Division for identifying and uprooting criminality within our ranks and has assigned the SAPS anti-corruption unit to investigate the matter. “The SAPS takes this opportunity to assure the nation that it has stringent measures in place to ensure taxpayers’ monies are utilised in service to the nation and that the SAPS will not tolerate fraud and corruption within its ranks. No close protector attached to the president, deputy president, ministers or deputy ministers is implicated in this case,” he said.

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