It was on April 18 last year at about 2.55 pm when the complainant received a telephone call from FNB in Southdale. The teller at the bank was phoning to confirm the details of the complainant and to make sure the company knows about the cheque that was presented to them.
It was a cash cheque and the teller had noticed there was something suspicious about the person who had handed them the cheque to be cashed.
The complainant said she knew nothing about this cheque and said that no such cheque had been issued by the company.
The complainant then visited the bank, where she found Const Lebogane Mashapa and Sgt Mzwandile Mhlongo.
The complainant confirmed the suspect did work for the company but had nothing to do with the finances.
Before the complainant had left the office to go to the bank, she checked the company’s cheque book and noticed two blank cheques had been taken.
The complainant asked the SAPS members to search the suspects (as there were two people) and the missing second cheque was also found in their possession. Upon further investigation it was noticed the signature on both cheques had been forged.
A case of theft and fraud was opened and both suspects were arrested and taken to Booysens Police Station.
The docket was given to Const Pule Mokoena to investigate. The suspects were charged and taken to court. The docket was remanded to the station to obtain all outstanding information.
The suspects were found guilty and on November 4 they were each sentenced to one year and six months’ imprisonment of which nine months are suspended with the choice of acknowledgment of guilt or bail of R6 000.
The management of Booysens SAPS thanks Mashapa and Mhlongo for arresting the suspects and Mokoena in obtaining the successful conviction after a thorough investigation took place.
