BARBERTON – A senior accounting clerk at the Barberton Hospital has been arrested in connection with the theft of computers from the institution.
On October 31 hospital management was tipped off by a concerned member of the community about the clerk who was in possession of computers belonging to the hospital.
“The management immediately notified a police detective who was handling the computer theft case opened by the hospital two years ago after computers started to disappear from the hospital.
A search warrant was eventually issued. The clerk was collected at his office by the police and taken to his house where the premises was searched. Computers and hard drives with bar codes from the hospital were confiscated,” explained Mr Dumisani Malamule, spokesperson for the department.
The man was then taken to the Barberton Police Station for questioning and arrested on charges of theft.
MEC for health in Mpumalanga, Mr Gillion Mashego, has expressed his shock about the incident.
“I am disturbed by the news that one of our officials allegedly stole goods from the hospital. I would like to state that we do not tolerate theft. It is the responsibility of every official employed by government to safeguard items utilised to render services. This kind of act is not acceptable. However, we will allow the law to take its course. We have also instituted an internal investigation on the matter,” he said.
The investigation is continuing.
