Umbilo businessman’s bank cards stolen in hospital, nurses arrested for fraud
Umbilo SAPS advises the community to avoid taking any valuable goods such cellphones, bank cards or jewellery to hospital.
TWO men will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today, 13 January, for fraud.
According to Capt Pumzile Makaula from Umbilo SAPS the two accused are nurses.
Makaula said the suspects were arrested after the partner of an Umbilo businessman reported suspicious activity on their joint bank account.
The partner noticed the card was being used while the ill man was in the hospital as well as after he had died.
“lt is alleged that according to a bank statement, one withdrawal was made at the hospital. The hospital’s video footage was not clear enough, and the investigating officer, Sgt Ngcobo from Umbilo, continued with his investigation. He visited one of the stores where purchases were made with the card, and video footage confirmed the card was used by a nurse dressed in full uniform,” said Makaula.
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She said the accused was arrested and some of the goods he purchased were recovered.
The suspect claimed the card was with his friend, who worked at a hospital in uMhlanga.
He too was arrested and other goods purchased by him were also recovered.
“The first accused is a repeat offender who has been arrested for other cases of theft and fraud. He is also wanted by police in Cape Town for a case of fraud. The second accused has also previously been arrested for fraud,” she said.
Makaula said it is alleged that the pin code for the card had been saved on the deceased’s cellphone.
The phone was recovered at a second-hand cellphone shop in Mahatma Gandhi (Point) Road.
“We advise the community to avoid taking any valuable goods such cellphones, bank cards or jewellery to hospital,” she said.
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