UIF fraudsters arrested
TWO Department of Labour officials and a teacher were arrested in connection with UIF fraud on Tuesday, 13 August by members of the Durban Commercial Crime Unit.
A 33-year-old inspector and a 37-year-old teacher were arrested in the early hours of the morning in Adams Mission and Sunnyside. They will appear in the Durban Commercial Crime Court today.
In a second arrest later in the morning, a 34-year old official was arrested and he will appear in court on Wednesday, 14 August.
“It is alleged the 33-year-old inspector asked the teacher to recruit people who were not employed, to fraudulently apply for UIF on their behalf. The teacher handed forms to would-be ‘beneficiaries’, including her relatives. After the forms had been filled in with the necessary information and returned to the inspector, she would create a fictitious company and place the names she had received under the company’s name, as if they were employed. Once the application was processed and payment made, she would take a large sum of money, leaving the ‘beneficiaries’ with a small amount,” said Col Vincent Mdunge of KZN police media centre.
Investigations reveal some R70,000 has been paid to undeserving recipients.
