Sheppie cops charged with RAF fraud

THREE officers from the Port Shepstone policing area and a tout from Port Shepstone have been arrested after allegedly committing fraud worth millions against the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

According to police, it is believed the arrests represent a major breakthrough involving a fraud syndicate.The three policemen, from Paddock, Gamalakhe and Port Shepstone respectively, together with a tout, appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrates’ Court last week and were released on R2 000 bail each.

Further investigations revealed that a doctor from Port Shepstone is also involved. These investigations are continuing and the doctor has not yet been arrested.

Two constables, from Paddock and Gamalakhe, were the first to be arrested.  One of the constables had allegedly commissioned five claim forms and the other allegedly nine.

The claims were around R100 000 a person, amounting to a total of R1. 4 million.

The tout and the warrant officer from Port Shepstone face 11 counts of fraud between them, amounting to R1.1 million.

The case was postponed to May 5.

The (RAF), which has been beset by financial problems, is funded through the fuel levy. Recently the finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene increased the fuel levy by 50 cents a litre during his budget speech.

The increase in the levy would be used to clear the fund’s backlog of R98 billion in unfunded liability.