SEDIBENG – A police officer and two employees from a local funeral parlour remain behind bars following their arrest on charges of corruption, fraud, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice.
According to a source close to the investigation, the accused were allegedly involved in a sophisticated insurance scam.
The scandal was uncovered by an FNB forensic investigator, who was initially investigating a suspicious insurance claim filed by a popular funeral parlour.
Upon closer examination, the investigator discovered that the claim documents were signed by a Warrant Officer [name known to the paper], who falsely presented himself as an investigating officer from the Sharpeville Police Station.
Ster learned that the officer is actually part of the Sedibeng Public Order Police and had no authority over the case he claimed to investigate. In a leaked document obtained by Sedibeng Ster, the forensic investigator detailed how the Warrant Officer’s fraudulent documents cited a non-existent case of reckless and negligent driving.
The investigation further uncovered that the identity of a deceased individual, who passed away some time ago, was used to make fraudulent claims against FNB and other insurance companies.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said they can confirm that a Warrant Officer from the Sedibeng Public Order Policing was arrested on June 21 and charged with fraud, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice. According to Masondo, police cannot give more information about the case as the matter is still under investigation.
Masondo said the officer is the third suspect to be arrested in the case.